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en-usPRN Asia5https://en.prnasia.com/story/235427-0.shtmlSHANGHAI, Jan. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenTree Hospitality Group Ltd. (NYSE: GHG) ("GreenTree" or the "Company"), a leading franchised hotel operator in China, today announced that it has closed a HK$40 millioninvestment to acquire 27,776,000 ordinary shares in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ("HKSE") initial public offering of China Gingko Education Group Company Limited ("Gingko"). Gingkois a pioneer in developing and providing higher education services for the hospitality industry in China. Gingko was founded in 2002 by Mr. Gongyu Fang, a visionary entrepreneur in this field. With nearly 10,000 students on campus, Gingko is currently ranked as China's number one hospitality university by the "Gaosan Web Association", an authoritative website with introductions to and rankings of universities in China.

Mr. Fang, Chairman and CEO of Gingko, welcomed GreenTree's investment. "We are pleased to have GreenTree as our investor. This transaction is part of both companies' larger plan to cultivate professional talents for the hospitality industry in China. It is a truly win-win cooperation that combines Gingko's deep expertise in education with industry experience from GreenTree, a leading player." Mr. Alex Xu, Chairman and CEO of GreenTree, echoed, "Mr. Fang has done a tremendous job of building Gingko's superior educational platform. We feel privileged to work together with him and his team as part of our strategy to further enhance and develop talents for our companies and for China's hospitality industry generally."

About GreenTree Hospitality Group Ltd.

GreenTree Hospitality Group Ltd. ("GreenTree" or the "Company") (NYSE: GHG) is a leading franchised hotel operator in China. As of September 30, 2018, GreenTree had 2,558 hotels, among which 2,528 are franchised and managed hotels. The Company had the highest proportion of franchised-and-managed hotels among the top four economy to mid-scale hotel networks in China. In 2017, GreenTree was the fourth largest economy to mid-scale hotel group in China in terms of number of hotels according to China Hospitality Association. The Company has built a strong suite of brands including its flagship "GreenTree Inns" brand as a result of its long-standing dedication to the hospitality industry in China and consistent quality of its services, signature hotel designs, broad geographic coverage and convenient locations. GreenTree has positioned its brands to appeal to value-and-quality-conscious business travelers and leisure travelers.

China Gingko Education Group Company Limited ("Gingko") (HKEX: 01851) is a higher education services provider in Sichuan Province focusing on cultivating professional talents for the hospitality industry in China. Gingko started to provide higher education services in 2002. For the 2017/2018 school year, Gingko enrolled nearly 10,000 students, among which 1,222 students enrolled in the hospitality management program. According to the Frost & Sullivan Report, by the end of 2017, among all 746 private higher education institutions in China, only 225 institutions offered hospitality management programs. Among such 225 institutions, Gingko's hospitality management program ranked second based on the number of students enrolled in the hospitality management program in the 2017/2018 school year. In a comprehensive assessment conducted in 2017 by Chinese Universities Alumni Association ("CUAA") of programs offered by all independent colleges in China, 24 out of Gingko's 25 bachelor's degree programs were named star-rated programs, among which its hospitality management program was named a six-star program, representing CUAA's highest award for undergraduate hospitality management programs offered by independent colleges in China.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to," "confident," "future," or other similar expressions. GreenTree may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about or based on GreenTree's current beliefs, expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about us and our industry, are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: GreenTree's goals and growth strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; trends in the hospitality industry in China and globally; competition in our industry; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and other regions where we operate; the regulatory environment in which we and our franchisees operate; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided, including the forward-looking statements made, in this press release are current as of the date of the press release. Except as required by law, GreenTree undertakes no obligation to update any such information or forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the information is provided or statements are made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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EDUHEDHRTTRAOFRSat, 19 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/235040-0.shtmlBEIJING, Jan. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA), Ministry of Education, China and the British Council (BC) jointly released the results of their collaborative research on linking IELTS and Aptis to China's Standards of English Language Ability (CSE). The successful completion of the research marks the official mapping of the CSE to the international examination systems, while demonstrating that Sino-UK educational collaboration has moved to a new stage.

Results of Linking IELTS and Aptis to China's Standards of English Language Ability

Results of Linking IELTS to China’s Standards of English Language Ability

Results of Linking Aptis to China’s Standards of English Language Ability

Dr. Yu Han, Vice President of NEEA, commented, "The completion of the research on linking IELTS and Aptis to the CSE displays the CSE's value in practice, and demonstrates the best practice of aligning language tests to the CSE. It will shed light on language learning patterns of English learners in different areas. It also contributes to the 'opening up' of China's education, bringing 'China's standards' to the world and sharing Chinese wisdom in the field of language education."

Prof. Barry O'Sullivan, the academic team leader from the UK's side and the Head of Assessment Research and Development at the British Council stated, "Both IELTS and Aptis are communication-based tests as they focus on all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and assess test-takers' actual ability to use the English language. This notion lays a solid foundation for linking the two tests to the CSE, which is a use-oriented English language proficiency scale. The linking results will be of particular value to policy makers at educational institutions, by helping them to develop appropriate curricular objectives to meet globalisation goals. They will also encourage the improvement of teaching methods, learning materials and teaching practices in classroom. The results will also allow test-takers to have a deeper understanding of their English proficiency by referring to the descriptions of language ability in the CSE that are mapped to their IELTS or Aptis test score. This will enable them to devise an appropriate learning plan. In addition, test users such as schools and employers will be able to select the appropriate test score boundary, by referring to the linking results and CSE level descriptors which meet their requirements of students' English proficiency."

To promote the comprehensive reform and development of foreign language education in China and to cultivate talents with global vision, language proficiency and a comprehensive knowledge of the international community, the State Council of China decreed in The Implementation Opinions of the State Council on Deepening the Reform of the Examination and Enrollment System that a national assessment framework of foreign languages should be established. The CSE was developed as the fundamental element of National Foreign Language Assessment Framework.

The CSE, the first full-range English proficiency scale designed for Chinese English learners and users, was released by the Ministry of Education and National Language Commission, People's Republic of China in February, 2018. Its English version was released on December 1st, 2018. Based on empirical research data on the ability and needs of Chinese English learners at multiple learning stages, the CSE categorises the ability of Chinese English learners into 9 proficiency levels across 3 broad stages depicting the development of language ability. The CSE adopts a use-oriented theoretical framework and has a multi-tiered descriptive scheme, defining language proficiency levels comprehensively through specific, accurate and easy-to-understand descriptors for each level. It is expected that the CSE will serve as a fundamental strategy in promoting English learning, teaching and multi-dimensional assessment in China.

On 6 December, 2016, Mr. Chen Baosheng, China's Minister of Education, and Ms. Justine Greening, the UK Secretary of State for Education, signed Action Plan under the UK-China Partners in Education Framework at the 4th Meeting of the China-UK High-Level People-to-People Dialogue in Shanghai, China. The document stated that in order to promote meaningful communication and an understanding of the alignment of English proficiency standards in China and the UK, the two countries would conduct collaborative research on linking specific English language tests currently in use to China's Standards of English Language Ability. IELTS and Aptis were chosen as the first two exams for the linking research. The National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA), Ministry of Education, China and the British Council were appointed respectively to implement this joint programme.

Launched at the beginning of 2017, the collaborative research on linking IELTS and Aptis to the CSE took two years to complete. The team members include representatives and researchers from NEEA, Chinese academic institutions, the British Council, and Cambridge Assessment English. The research team referred to previous studies on linking international language tests to language standards and employed a scientific approach which integrated expert judgements and empirical data, collecting evidences from multiple sources. This ensured that the linking claim would be both valid and reliable. The research also saw the active participation of experts, scholars, teachers and students from various regions in China. In addition, NEEA and BC jointly held International Conferences on Language Testing and Assessment in several provinces, where hundreds of experts from home and abroad exchanged their ideas and research findings on the application of the CSE and the implications of the research on English learning, teaching and assessment in China.

Since its launch in 1989, IELTS has become the world's leading English language test for higher education and global migration; delivered at over 1200 locations in over 140 countries and accepted by over 10,000 organisations globally. Each over 3 million IELTS tests are taken by people seeking to demonstrate English language proficiency for education, migration or employment. The British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English jointly own IELTS.

Aptis is an innovative global English assessment tool developed by the British Council. Featuring a unique flexibility and convenience, Aptis supports schools and institutions with efficient solutions for comprehensive four-skills testing. As Aptis quickly and accurately assesses English proficiency level, it offers reliable evidence of the communicative ability of teachers and students and support schools to improve the quality of English teaching and assessment and boost internationalization.

Embry-Riddle is accessible to students worldwide through fully online programs and at more than 135 locations.

U.S. News & World Report identified Embry-Riddle's Worldwide Campus as the No. 1 online undergraduate educator among 348 schools ranked on the 2019 list. It was the sixth consecutive year that Embry-Riddle's online bachelor's degree programs ranked within the Top 5 on the list.

This year's list placed Embry-Riddle among outstanding company: The university successfully competed with many of the United States' most distinguished research institutions, and it was the only private university among the top schools.

Embry-Riddle President Dr. P. Barry Butler said: "We are honored to be named No.1 among so many exceptional online educators. The latest U.S. News & World Report ranking will inspire us to sustain and advance all of our award-winning educational programs in service to students."

Embry-Riddle Worldwide Chancellor Dr. John R. Watret added, "Embry-Riddle's online programs meet the highest standards of academic excellence, and they are also remarkably accessible to all students – from first-generation university students, to military members transitioning back into civilian life, to professionals working to advance their careers. Because Embry-Riddle is No. 1, our students are exceptionally well-positioned to secure rewarding, meaningful jobs, particularly because the aviation industry is rapidly growing, yet it faces a global shortage of highly qualified pilots and aviation maintenance technicians."

HONG KONG, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) fashion students presented elevated designs at the fifth annual SCAD Hong Kong Fashion Showcase, Jan. 10, 2019, which attracted 450 industry guests. The newly structured show, curated by Michael Fink, Dean of the SCAD School of Fashion, featured fashion vignettes throughout the former North Kowloon Magistracy building in Sham Shui Po. 52 designs were spotlighted from 20 senior fashion students and recent alumni from each of SCAD's four campuses.

SCAD Hong Kong's Fashion Showcase highlighted the university's commitment to professionally preparing young design talent for creative careers and provided a high-profile platform for students to connect with elite professionals from global leading brands such as Chanel, Dior, Bvlgari and YSL. The show was distinguished by four SCAD Hong Kong fashion students: Maria Nava, Tammi Lau, Cheryl Ma and Dylan Helyer.

Focusing on womenswear, Cheryl Ma is particularly interested in texture and tactile sensations as seen in her collection, 'RISE', which was inspired by fungi and its ability to continue to grow despite adversity. Ma is currently employed as a fashion designer for an established textile company in Hong Kong. Maria Nava's 'Green' is a futuristic women's collection inspired by movement and German Expressionism, which can be seen through custom fabrication, lenticular prints, odd silhouettes and distorted conventional shapes. Nava is currently developing her own label as a fashion designer. Tammi Lau's abstract womenswear collection, 'Windaholic', draws inspiration from the movement of wind and its symbolic meanings. Incorporating illusion graphics, Windaholic creates a psychedelic mirage using neoprene fabrics. Tammi is currently working as an assistant fashion designer in the city.

"The top ranked fashion program at SCAD offers a rigorous curriculum structured around principles of design, unbounded creativity and state-of-the-art technology, and this is evident in the latest fashion collections produced at SCAD Hong Kong," said Mr. Khoi Vo, Vice President for SCAD Hong Kong. "SCAD students are flawlessly prepared for leadership in the dynamic and ultra-competitive global fashion industry, and the creations presented at this year's Fashion Showcase 2019 are a true reflection of that."

SCAD fashion students gained first-hand experience running the show's backstage operations for this professional production, as special guest Kathy Chow shared her invaluable experience as a supermodel in the fashion industry in Hong Kong, to the participating students.

CINCINNATI, Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- It's official. Union Institute & University is breaking down higher education barriers worldwide with the signing of the new, historic articulation agreement with the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) effective January 9, 2019.

Union Institute & University signs articulation agreement with the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) effective January 9, 2019 at the International Conference themed CCCJ: “Forging Pathways for Future Empowerment."

This new affiliation underscores Union's commitment to its social justice mission by removing barriers to a college degree on an international level and fulfills President Karen Schuster Webb's commitment to equity of access to educational excellence around the world.

"Union is a world-class university with a distinguished social justice legacy," said Dr. Webb. "We have had a long relationship with Jamaica through our alumna, former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. Providing accredited bachelor's degrees to Jamaica's citizens fulfills our mission to transform lives and communities through rigorous, relevant, and results-oriented education."

Students from the Community Colleges of Jamaica will now have direct pathways to earn a bachelor's degree in a variety of subject areas, including Criminal Justice Management.

"The new partnership allows graduates of CCCJ's associate programs seamless transfer opportunities for educational advancement to the UI&U bachelor's degree program and to validate and facilitate the transfer of credit between the two systems," said Dr. Nelson Soto, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Union Institute & University.

Union is a leader in student-centered education with socially relevant and applicable learning outcomes in its undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs.

"Union is the right partner to solve the need for higher education degrees worldwide due to its more than five decades of identifying and refining ways to structure and deliver education to meet the needs of online learners," said Dr. Soto.

Transfer students from CCCJ will receive all UI&U academic services, including small classes, dedicated faculty who are practitioners in their fields, one-on-one program advising, writing and math tutoring services, access to its renowned 100 percent online library, and career services.

Learn how you can transfer your credits today to complete your undergraduate degree at this link.

About Union Institute & University

Union Institute & University is a non-profit, regionally accredited university specializing in providing quality higher education degrees for adults nationwide. Founded in 1964, Union's academic programs and services are the result of more than five decades of identifying and refining ways to structure and deliver education to meet the needs of adults. Distinguished as the pioneer in adult education, Union perfected the concepts now common in higher education such as the hybrid model, a blend of online and traditional classroom instruction, interdisciplinary studies, and student centered education with socially relevant and applicable learning outcomes in its undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs.

The university is guided by its core mission to educate highly motivated adults who seek academic programs to engage, enlighten, and empower them to pursue professional goals and a lifetime of learning, service, and social responsibility.

Union is a national university with academic centers located in: Ohio, Florida, and California.

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EDUHEDNPTFri, 11 Jan 2019 01:19:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/234711-0.shtmlBEIJING, Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The 124 online courses from XuetangX are part of the annual selection made by China's Ministry of Education. The 2018 national premium online open courses are evaluated by the Ministry of Education, aiming to promote the online open course construction and application sharing, accelerate the fusion of information technology and education, propel teaching reform in colleges and universities, improve the teaching quality of higher education, enhance education fairness, and serve the learning society construction.

For years, XuetangX has worked as a premium online platform across the nation offering open courses and has actively responded to the call of the Ministry of Education. XuetangX has significantly contributed to the construction and application of Chinese online open courses with its resources and technology advantages.

Since its establishment in 2013, XuetangX has shown premium courses from famous universities as its development cornerstone, while concentrating on providing premium massive open online courses (MOOCs) to all learners. These courses improve teaching quality in colleges and universities and satisfy personal development needs.

XuetangX has over 1,800 courses from institutions such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Microsoft, and Huawei. Nearly 16 million learners from 209 nations have selected these courses. As reported by Class Central in its latest 2018 MOOC supplier ranking list, XuetangX is the third largest MOOC platform in the world.

XuetangX launched credit courses in 2015, and it has promoted the process of mutual recognition of credits, helping relieve the imbalance of teacher resources. These credit courses are all premium courses, taught by renowned teachers from famous colleges. At present, more than 350 schools have chosen credit courses to make up for a lack of curriculum resources and to explore new classroom teaching modes.

The teachers at Guizhou Institute of Technology, after utilizing XuetangX MOOC courses, have reconstructed its teaching processes. Students are now actively involved in the classes, and their learning initiative and interests have increased.

MOOC resources and the blended teaching revolution have improved teacher effectiveness and talent training quality. That is a win-win solution for both students and teachers. XuetangX will continue its exploration of new ideas and models for the online open courses application, will perfect and launch more education products and services, and will help improve the overall quality of higher education teaching.

XuetangX is a world-leading platform for lifelong learning. It is devoted to bringing together quality education resources from schools, enterprises, and providing a low-cost, efficient access to knowledge, certificates, credits and even degrees. At present, there are 16 million registered users and more than 1,800 MOOCs courses.

SYDNEY, Jan. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Geoswift, UnionPay International and Western Union Business Solutions, a subsidiary of The Western Union Company, have recently offered a joint tuition payment promotion available to Chinese students studying at more than 600 academic institutions in 11 countries.

This alliance demonstrates the continued commitment in providing convenient and trusted payments which deliver an efficient experience for Chinese students and their families when making international tuition payments. The promotion is available only for Chinese students studying in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Czech Republic and Austria who choose to pay a qualifying tuition payment.

Eligible Chinese students studying abroad who pay their tuition in RMB will receive a complimentary Amazon gift card worth RMB 100, while supplies last. To be eligible, students will need to make a qualifying RMB payment by selecting UnionPay on their institution's WU® GlobalPay for Students platform and complete payment via Geoswift's PayTuitionNow portal. The offer is available until March 31, 2019 and is subject to the following:

The promotion is available to UnionPay cardholders (card number starting with '62') who make a student payment of RMB 10,000 or more

Users who make a qualifying transaction are eligible to receive an RMB 100 Amazon gift card redeemable on Amazon.cn (the gift card can be used for products listed for sale on Amazon.cn, they cannot be used to purchase additional gift cards or merchandise from abroad. The card is valid for three years)

The promotion is valid while supplies last

Raymond Qu, founder and CEO, Geoswift added, "The number of Chinese students studying abroad continues to rise and exceeded 600,000 in 2017[1]. Coupled with positive economic growth, cultural expectation and future employment prospects for Chinese international students, we believe that China will remain the world's leading source of international students for the foreseeable future."

"Chinese students who study abroad and their families are a customer group to whom we attach great importance," said June Chen, General Manager of UnionPay International America. "And based on the UnionPay global acceptance network and service system, the UnionPay payment service system for these students is improving constantly: On the one hand, we are making education payments a feature service of UnionPay cross-border online payments, providing solutions to the biggest pain point of tuition fee payments. On the other, we are expanding our acceptance network in and near renowned schools, further enriching the card using channels by promoting innovative products like mobile QuickPass QR code payment. We are committed to offering better payment services to Chinese students studying abroad."

"With a long history serving the education sector with more than 650 education institutions globally and providing payments to more than 200 countries and territories, we remain dedicated to providing innovative payment solutions that reinvent the way individuals send and receive money around the world," said Adam Tiberi, senior vice president, strategy and product, Western Union Business Solutions. "We are proud of our continued alliance with Geoswift and UnionPay, and support this current promotion designed to help students as they continue their education journey in global markets."

Geoswift is an innovative payment technology company connecting China and the rest of the world. The company comprises the world's leading payment technology experts that have a deep understanding of the industry, technology, and global and China monetary policy. Geoswift provides clients with customised one-stop cross-border payment solutions to and from China. Geoswift is relied upon by the world's leading e-commerce companies, most prestigious universities and the largest brands in the travel industry to grow their businesses.

Geoswift is an acquirer of UnionPay International in North America, and a long-term partner of many other leading financial institutions. It also runs numbers of currency exchange stores throughout China. Geoswift is headquartered in Hong Kong with operating offices in Shanghai, Singapore, London, Vancouver, Seattle and San Francisco for strategic and regulatory functions. For more information visit, please visit www.geoswift.com or send in your queries to info@geoswift.com.

About UnionPay International

UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay focused on the growth and support of UnionPay's global business. In partnership with more than 1800 institutions worldwide, UnionPay International has enabled card acceptance in 171 countries and regions with issuance in 50 countries and regions. UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and secure cross-border payment services to the world's largest cardholder base and ensures convenient local services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and merchants.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a global leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement. Our omnichannel platform connects the digital and physical worlds and makes it possible for consumers and businesses to send and receive money and make payments with speed, ease, and reliability. As of September 30, 2018, our network included over 550,000 retail agent locations offering Western Union, Vigo or Orlandi Valuta branded services in more than 200 countries and territories, with the capability to send money to billions of accounts. Additionally, westernunion.com, our fastest growing channel in 2017, is available in more than 50 countries and territories to move money around the world. In 2017, we moved over $300 billion in principal in nearly 130 currencies and processed 32 transactions every second across all our services. With our global reach, Western Union moves money for better, connecting family, friends and businesses to enable financial inclusion and support economic growth. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

SSC has been a long term sponsor of APTEC, with Brad Wurm serving as one of the board members. This professional relationship has benefited both parties greatly. APTEC serves as a talent pool for summer interns and provides opportunities for university collaboration. Two excellent summer interns were recruited via APTEC connections in 2018. From student's perspective, participating summer intern program helps develop technical and social skills for working in a team environment while also furthering future job prospects.

The highlight of this year's conference was the keynote speaker, Professor Tim Lodge from University of Minnesota. He gave a talk about new trends in polymer science and his recent work on self-assembly behavior of methylcellulose. In the poster session later, SSC members actively interacted with students to better understand their projects and potentially discover candidates for future internships. During the "speed date" session, SSC members explained typical recruiting process and gave students tips on how to prepare for job interviews. These conversations were also a great opportunity to connect with the university's professors, several of whom expressed interest in collaboration in the future. "It's a great platform for bringing together academia and industry to learn from each other" said Xiaonan about the event. Sekisui Specialty Chemicals looks forward to sponsoring the 2019 consortium and meeting more bright students next year.

Sekisui Specialty Chemicals' primary product is Selvol, a line of high performance polyvinyl alcohol polymers and copolymers used in paper, adhesive, packaging, construction, personal care, and many other specialty formulations. Sekisui Specialty Chemicals is a subsidiary of the Sekisui Chemical Group, a multibillion dollar, global company that delivers a wide range of products and services to enrich people's lives. The company is comprised of core businesses and technologies in housing, social infrastructure, and chemical solutions. For more information, visit www.sekisui-sc.com/

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CHMEDUHEDTDSFri, 4 Jan 2019 02:01:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/233739-0.shtmlBEIJING, Dec. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. (the "Company" or "New Oriental") (NYSE: EDU), the largest provider of private educational services in China, today announced that it will report its financial results for the second quarter ended November 30, 2018, before the U.S. market opens on January 22, 2019. New Oriental's management will host an earnings conference call at 8 AM on January 22, 2019, U.S. Eastern Time (9 PM on January 22, 2019, Beijing/Hong Kong Time).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

US:

+1-845-675-0437

Hong Kong:

+852-3018-6771

UK:

+44-20-3621-4779

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call. The passcode is "3990216".

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until January 31, 2019:

New Oriental is the largest provider of private educational services in China based on the number of program offerings, total student enrollments and geographic presence. New Oriental offers a wide range of educational programs, services and products consisting primarily of language training and test preparation, primary and secondary school education, online education, content development and distribution, overseas study consulting services, pre-school education and study tour. New Oriental's ADSs, each of which represents one common share, currently trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "EDU."

The Hon Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, presents the Gold Award of the 2018 HLMA to Zhiyuan Bai (center) from La Salle College for his research paper titled “On the Trapezoidal Peg Problem among Convex Curves”.

Mr. Adriel Chan (right), Executive Director of Hang Lung Properties, holds a dialogue with Dr. Owen H. Ko, 2004 HLMA Winner and Assistant Professor of the Department of Medicine & Therapeutics and School of Biomedical Sciences of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, on his mathematical journey to neuroscience.

The biennial HLMA was organized by Hang Lung Properties Limited in conjunction with The Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Department of Mathematics of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). An announcement and awards presentation ceremony was held at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center today, with The Hon Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as the guest of honor.

This year, a total of 260 students forming over 90 teams from over 60 schools entered the competition. A record high of 27 individual entries were received. All submitted research reports have gone through stringent reviews by the HLMA Scientific Committee. Shortlisted teams have been invited to attend the Oral Defense and make their final presentations to the Scientific Committee. A total of HK$1 million in prize money was presented to the Gold, Silver, Bronze Awards winners and five Honorable Mentions.

Mr. Weber Lo, Chief Executive Officer of Hang Lung Properties, said, "Today marks the eighth occasion that we organize this mathematics research competition with CUHK for secondary school students. 'We Do It Right' is our business philosophy that extends to all aspects, including corporate social responsibility. HLMA is our longest community investment initiative for youth; it also aligns with government's policy in promoting STEM education. Through this Award, we aim to cultivate our young people's interest in mathematics and to nurture a pool of talents, which would ultimately enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong."

Professor Zhouping Xin, Chairman of the 2018 HLMA Scientific Committee, was thrilled to meet with students who are so passionate about mathematics. "It is truly incredible for them to dedicate so much effort to mathematical research over such a long period of time. Most of the research reports submitted by the participating teams demonstrate the creativity, originality, and ability to conduct mathematical analysis to a remarkable level. The breadth and depth of mathematical understanding of the students is truly impressive. I hope that, no matter whether they win an award in HLMA this time or not, they can sustain their passion for exploring mathematics, constantly striving for society's future technological advancement."

Established in 2004, the HLMA encourages secondary school students to realize their creative potential in the study of mathematics and sciences by stimulating their passion for intellectual discovery, the goal being to nurture Hong Kong's students to pursue their passion in mathematics and sciences and enrich the society. To further promote mathematics to the public, Hang Lung has launched the Facebook fan page "HLMA -- To Infinity". This provides a variety of posts and interactive games that illustrate how mathematics is applicable in our daily lives. The page adopts a lively thought-provoking approach designed to raise public interest in this core discipline.

BOSTON, Dec. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- What happens when nearly 300 school-based therapists and specialists come together to exchange ideas, share resources, and address services and solutions? A community of professionals dedicated to making a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of children and families is born.

Therapies in the School Conference

… and for the past 19 years, ERI has done just that: connect school-based therapists and faculty experts at the Annual Therapies in the Schools Conference. Our most recent conference took place November 2018 in Framingham, Massachusetts. The two-day course featured leading faculty members and speakers offering fresh perspectives on the ever-evolving field of school-based therapy.

Did you attend this year's Therapies in the Schools Conference? What did you like about the conference? What do you hope to see next year? Join our Therapies in the Schools Discussion Group on Facebook and share your experience and ideas!

Attendees had a lot to say about this year's conference, including:

"This conference is fabulous! ERI listened to therapists and provides topics that are requested. Information is relevant, and ideas are given to use immediately. It's great to attend a conference that is geared specifically to school-based therapists. I highly recommend attending."– C. Lalkas, Wolfeboro, NH

"If I can only attend one conference per year, this is it! I consider it a smorgasbord: a conference where I can come and be exposed to many different topics related to my profession all in two days!" – B. Tremblay, Lake Placid, NY

"My experience at Therapies in the Schools Conference has been outstanding. It has exceeded my expectations. The presenters were exceptionally professional and knowledgeable. They were also relevant to my practice. ERI organized this conference very well and provided such a wide variety of optional opportunities as well. This conference is highly recommended to any therapists working in the schools!" – A. Semperbon, Laconia, NH

While we have offered our conference for 19 years, we are always energizing the crowd with new information and offerings. This year, attendees were invited to participate in Lunch Breakout Sessions including roundtable discussions to improve networking and share best practices, as well as informal Q&A sessions with faculty and speakers, and a networking wine and cheese reception. Be sure to check our website for details about the online sessions!

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CPREDUHEAHTSHEDMLMTue, 18 Dec 2018 06:07:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232732-0.shtmlTOKYO, Dec. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 10, the University of Tsukuba's Tokyo Campus hosted the 2nd Tri-University Showcase Conference on the SFT Sport Academy Formation Project. The event was organized by Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies(TIAS), together with the National Coach Developer Academy(NCDA) at Nippon Sport Science University, and the NIFS International Sport Academy(NIFISA) at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports(NIFS).

Founded as part of the Sport for Tomorrow programme, introduced by the Japanese government to promote the Olympic and Paralympic movements, TIAS is Japan's first international sporting academy, welcoming students from around the world as part of its efforts to cultivate the next generation of global leaders in the field of sport. NCDA specializes in the development of top-level coaching professionals within Japan, while NIFISA trains young coaches from around the world.

Over 100 attendees heard speeches from Yoko Fujie, Director General of the Japan Sports Agency; Dr. Tania Braga, Head of Legacy with the International Olympic Committee; Prof. Joon-ho Kang, Director of Seoul National University's Dream Together Master Program; and John Bates, President of the International Council for Coaching Excellence. There were progress reports on the three institutions' activities since the project's launch, along with discussion on key topics and challenges en route to creating a Japan-based centre for the development of global sporting personnel.

Dr. Tania Braga voiced her hopes for Tokyo 2020: "(As the first Olympic Games since) the IOC Legacy Strategic Approach was approved in August 2017, Tokyo 2020 is a pioneer (in the monitoring and reporting) of legacy, so I hope we will have good results to see. The legacy vision needs to be clear through the whole life cycle from planning a city's candidacy to the end of the Games."

About TIAS:

Based at the University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies (TIAS) was founded in 2014 with the backing of the Sport for Tomorrow programme, introduced by the Japanese government to promote sport, along with the Olympic and Paralympic movements. The academy's Master's Programme in Sport and Olympic Studies aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the field of global sport. http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/

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EDUHEDSPTFri, 14 Dec 2018 16:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232562-0.shtmlAcademics, business and government leaders at INSEAD Forums discuss responsible leadership and global stewardship]]>
FONTAINEBLEAU, France, ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, and SINGAPORE, Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- INSEAD, the business school for the world, is taking its concept of business as a force for good to a global audience. Following the launch of the Campaign for INSEAD: A Force for Good event at its Europe Campus, focus turned to Singapore, where the recent INSEAD Forum Asia and the Campaign for INSEAD Launch brought together leaders from across Asia to discuss more responsible leadership.

The world is currently writing an important chapter that complements business innovation and intergovernmental cooperation -- the chapter on integration. At the same time, there has been a loss of trust in governments, businesses and institutions, which may hinder global integration of business and societal goals.

Minister Chan cautioned that how the world manages growing disparities will have significant global political impact. If the disparity between those who win more and those who win less is not well managed, it can translate into global backlash against integration.

Similar commentary emerged from global business leaders in the "Business as a Force for Good" panel discussions moderated by Peter Zemsky, INSEAD Deputy Dean and Dean of Innovation, at INSEAD Forums in France and Singapore.

Andre Hoffmann MBA'90D, Vice Chairman of Roche Holdings, shared how Roche integrates societal values into the company's business model, which has placed the company atop the healthcare sector in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for ten years running. He states that, "We've got to the point where it is becoming really part of the DNA of the company. If we have businesses that manage well their relationship with the planet and with the markets -- efficiently and sufficiently; morally and with a sense of purpose -- we will not need philanthropy any more. Because the root cause of all these issues will have disappeared. So I think it is very important to amalgamate the two as quickly as possible."

Peter Zemsky (left), INSEAD Deputy Dean and Dean of Innovation, with Andre Hoffmann MBA’90D, Vice Chairman of Roche Holdings, at The Force for Good Conference on 5 October 2018.

How business schools can play their part

INSEAD is committed to developing responsible leaders who transform business and society. The concept of stewardship is important. The school has integrated global insights on business and society issues into its new MBA curriculum and executive education programmes to prepare students and participants -- the world's current and future leaders -- for global challenges and tough conversations ahead.

Peter Zemsky, Deputy Dean and Dean of Innovation at INSEAD, says that, "By sharing the action by those leading the way, we hope to inspire more individuals and leaders in more businesses and institutions around the world, including media. We all need to examine our power and influence, increase trust with society and act as a force for good in the world. At INSEAD, the business school for the world, we take our responsibility to develop global business leaders who understand the relationship between business and society very seriously."

Responsible leadership and sound stewardship of natural capital can regain public trust. This is how business can be a force for good at the community level and lay a foundation for growth over generations. This is how the goals of business and society can be integrated and how the world can usher in a new era of prosperity.

FONTAINEBLEAU, France, SINGAPORE, and ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- INSEAD, the business school for the world, is taking its concept of business as a force for good to a global audience. Following the launch of the Campaign for INSEAD: A Force for Good event at its Europe Campus, focus turned to Singapore, where the recent INSEAD Forum Asia and the Campaign for INSEAD Launch brought together leaders from across Asia to discuss more responsible leadership.

The world is currently writing an important chapter that complements business innovation and intergovernmental cooperation – the chapter on integration. At the same time, we also see loss of trust in governments, businesses and institutions, which may hinder global integration of business and societal goals.

According to the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer, trust in business, government and media in many markets remains dismal. In some countries, only 30 percent of people trust business. Globally, 60 percent agree that CEOs are driven more by greed than a desire to make a positive difference in the world. And media has become the least-trusted global institution.

First, evolve the open rules-based global trading system so that economic gains are shared equally. Second, unleash the potential of people through a meritocratic system where achievements are based on talent and effort. Third, embrace the values that put society ahead of personal interests and imbue in all people a sense of stewardship.

Minister Chan cautions that how the world manages growing disparities will have significant global political impact. If the disparity between those who win more and those who win less is not well managed, it can translate into global backlash against integration.

Similar commentary emerged from global business leaders in "Business as a Force for Good" panel discussions moderated by Peter Zemsky, INSEAD Deputy Dean and Dean of Innovation, at INSEAD Forums in France and Singapore.

Andre Hoffmann MBA'90D, Vice Chairman of Roche Holdings, shared how Roche integrates societal values into the company's business model, which has placed the company atop the healthcare sector in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for ten years running. He states that, "We've got to the point where it is becoming really part of the DNA of the company. If we have businesses that manage well their relationship with the planet and with the markets – efficiently and sufficiently; morally and with a sense of purpose – we will not need philanthropy any more. Because the root cause of all these issues will have disappeared. So I think it is very important to amalgamate the two as quickly as possible."

Peter Zemsky (left), INSEAD Deputy Dean and Dean of Innovation, with Andre Hoffmann MBA’90D, Vice Chairman of Roche Holdings, at The Force for Good Conference on 5 October 2018.

Piyush Gupta, Group CEO of DBS Bank, Singapore, elaborated on the bank's "do no harm, do more good" responsible banking programme, which focuses on scaling up renewable energy, green bonds, social housing, financial inclusion and gender diversity. He asserts that, "The idea about business for good is so important because this cannot be done by governments alone, nor by society or the NGOs. The only platform and the most relevant entity which has the capacity to do things and to move things along, is private sector corporations. This is the reality in today's world."

Subi Rangan, Professor of Strategy and Management at INSEAD, highlighted that businesses and institutions, which are created and led by individuals in power, need to use power as a force for good. He says that individuals would do well to remember that, "We can regulate power. Trust is always coming back to the use of power, and the purpose for which it is being used. When we abuse power then trust goes down, but if we use power in positive ways, trust can be inculcated."

How business schools can play their part

INSEAD is committed to developing responsible leaders who transform business and society. The concept of stewardship is important. The school has integrated global insights on business and society issues into its new MBA curriculum and executive education programmes to prepare students and participants – the world's current and future leaders – for global challenges and tough conversations ahead.

Peter Zemsky, Deputy Dean and Dean of Innovation at INSEAD, says that, "By sharing the action by those leading the way, we hope to inspire more individuals and leaders in more businesses and institutions around the world, including media. We all need to examine our power and influence, increase trust with society and act as a force for good in the world. At INSEAD, the business school for the world, we take our responsibility to develop global business leaders who understand the relationship between business and society very seriously."

Responsible leadership and sound stewardship of natural capital can regain public trust. This is how business can be a force for good at the community level and lay a foundation for growth over generations. This is how we can integrate the goals of business and society and usher in a new era of prosperity.

The two-day conference was organised by Sunway University in partnership with Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, the Cambridge University Malaysia Society and Young Scientists Network (YSN) Malaysia. The Conference served as a platform for researchers from the ASEAN region and the ASEAN research diaspora to drive research excellence in the region.

In her opening address, Professor Jane Clarke said, "Today's research is multidisciplinary. Today's research is international. Research is a leap into the unknown and basic research is an investment."

In her keynote address, Dr Elizabeth Lee said Sunway University has researchers focusing on a variety of areas of research which include antibiotics from the brains of cockroaches to combat infectious disease; new and improved nanotechnology, automotive and industrial lubricants for lower fuel consumption; water security, energy security and, environment and climate change.

"As a researcher, there is so much you can do. So, take your objectives and research, one step further. You are the thinkers and doers. In your personal values and attitude toward economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainable development -- encourage and influence those around you, aim to impact and make positive changes in your own community and society," said Dr Lee.

The conference is endorsed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); Ministry of Education Malaysia; the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia; National Science, Technology and Development Agency, Thailand. The conference is supported by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Oxford and Cambridge Society Malaysia, Malaysia Research University Network, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore and the International Network for Government Science Advice Asia.

Founding Chairman of Sunway Group and Chancellor of Sunway University Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah AO spoke on "Sustainability in ASEAN: The Sunway Story" during the ASEAN-Jeffrey Cheah Lecture.

The ASEAN Emerging Researchers Conference was designed to be an interdisciplinary research conference, encouraging the diversity of various domains of knowledge and research, converging through the lens of the ASEAN perspective.

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https://en.prnasia.com/story/232548-0.shtml
EDUHEDJVNTDSThu, 13 Dec 2018 14:10:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232467-0.shtmlMALIBU, California, Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2019 Parkening International Guitar Competition, which will be held at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA, between Tuesday, May 28, and Saturday, June 1, 2019, is now accepting applications. Applications may be submitted between now and Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 5 p.m. Applications will be accepted online through https://app.getacceptd.com/parkening.

The competition, which debuted in 2006, offers the largest prize purse of any classical guitar competition in the world, with competitors vying for cash awards in excess of $65,000. After three days of intense public performances, the winner of the Parkening International Guitar Competition receives a gold medal, the Jack Marshall Prize of $30,000, and the most prestigious title in classical guitar.

The panel will judge 15 competitors, three of whom will advance to the final round to perform a concerto before a live audience with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra. The gold, silver, and bronze medalists will be announced at the conclusion of the final round.

The Parkening Young Guitarist Competition, for guitarists age 17 and younger, will be held at Pepperdine on Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29, 2019. This two-day event will help to identify outstanding young guitarists and encourage them to continue their performance careers and studies.

"We are excited to invite talented guitarists from all over the world to apply to join us for the 2019 Parkening International Guitar Competition. We can't wait to review the applicants and select 15 competitors and 10 young guitarist competitors to join us in Malibu in May and June," said Rebecca Carson, Executive Director of the Parkening International Guitar Competition.

The Parkening Competition honors the distinguished career of the classical guitarist Christopher Parkening and his lifetime commitment to fostering musical excellence in young artists as demonstrated by his mentor, the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia. Parkening is celebrated as one of the world's preeminent virtuosos of the classical guitar and serves as Distinguished Professor of Music at Pepperdine University. A two-time Grammy nominee and a featured soloist in some of the finest orchestras in the country, his concerts and recordings have received the highest worldwide acclaim, captivating audiences around the world, from New York to Tokyo.

The 2019 Parkening Competition is made possible by a generous grant from Howard and Roberta Ahmanson, as well as Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy.

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EDUHEDFVTThu, 13 Dec 2018 04:13:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232357-0.shtmlYANGON, Myanmar, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to USD 19,700 will be awarded to students from Myanmar, with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totalling USD 76,500. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in Myanmar organises up to three paper-based IELTS tests and computer-delivered IELTS tests will be available in January 2019, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/mm/ for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with -- changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to VND450,000,000 will be awarded to students from Vietnam, with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totalling VND1.7 billion. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in Vietnam organises up to four paper-based IELTS tests and up to sixteen computer-delivered IELTS tests a month, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/vn/ for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to Rp 270 million will be awarded to students from Indonesia, with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totaling Rp 1.1 billion. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in Indonesia organises up to four paper-based IELTS tests and six computer-delivered IELTS tests a month, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/id/en for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with -- changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

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https://en.prnasia.com/story/232347-0.shtml
EDUHEDPDTWed, 12 Dec 2018 13:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232348-0.shtmlBANGKOK, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to 631,500 THB will be awarded to students from Thailand with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totalling 2,441,800 THB. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in Thailand organises up to four paper-based IELTS tests and twelve computer-delivered IELTS tests a month, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/th/en for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to RM 80,000 will be awarded to students from Malaysia, with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totalling RM 320,000. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in Malaysia organises up to four paper-based IELTS tests and eight computer-delivered IELTS tests a month, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/my/ for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

HONG KONG, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to HKD 150,000 will be awarded to students from Hong Kong, with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totalling HKD 580,000. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in Hong Kong organises up to four paper-based IELTS tests and at least twenty-fve computer-delivered IELTS tests a month, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/hk/en for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with -- changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to PHP 1,030,500 will be awarded to students from the Philippines, with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totalling PHP 5,000,000. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in the Philippines organises up to four paper-based IELTS tests and at least fifteen computer-delivered IELTS tests a month, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ph for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

]]>
https://en.prnasia.com/story/232330-0.shtml
EDUHEDPDTWed, 12 Dec 2018 12:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232333-0.shtmlSINGAPORE, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to SGD25,550 will be awarded to students from Singapore with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totalling SGD102,660. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in Singapore organises up to four paper-based IELTS tests and thirty computer-delivered IELTS tests a month, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/sg/ for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to NTD 600,000 will be awarded to students from Taiwan, with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totalling NTD 2.32 million. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in Taiwan organises up to four paper-based IELTS tests and more than twenty computer-delivered IELTS tests a month, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://tw.ieltsasia.org/en for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

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https://en.prnasia.com/story/232334-0.shtml
EDUHEDPDTWed, 12 Dec 2018 12:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232316-0.shtmlSEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now inviting applications from students who plan to begin undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or overseas in the 2019/20 academic year. Three Local Prizes amounting to KRW 21 million will be awarded to students from Korea, with Regional Prizes for regional winners in the East Asia region[1] totalling KRW 82 million. Since its launch in 2011, over 200 outstanding students have been awarded the IELTS Prize to pursue tertiary education in their desired destinations, such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and more. IELTS Prize winners studied a range of programmes, from Medicine, International Relations and Engineering Science to Human Rights, Public Communication, Performance, and many more.

"The British Council East Asia IELTS Prize is conferred on young scholars from diversified backgrounds who strive to achieve their study dreams. As an organisation that offers life-changing opportunities through delivering millions of exams annually, we are delighted to support these outstanding individuals to realise their dreams of pursuing higher education abroad, expand their understanding of the world, and then return home with new knowledge, improved confidence and fresh insights," said Trish Thomson, Regional Marketing Director, East Asia. "With more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies recognising IELTS, it continues to play a critical global role as the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. In the past year, more than three million IELTS tests have been taken globally, making it the world's most popular language test of its kind. The popularity and global recognition of IELTS positions it as the ideal choice of English proficiency test for those wishing to pursue their aspirations through international educational opportunities."

The Regional Grand Prize Winner 2017/18, Dinda Royhan, currently pursuing a Master of Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po, notes "I went to public schools in Indonesia where Bahasa Indonesia is the official medium of instructions, taking IELTS was the best way for me to demonstrate my ability to study abroad in English. To be very frank, I did not expect to obtain a high IELTS score simply because Bahasa Indonesia is the only language that I've ever used academically. Scoring 8.5 in IELTS was very empowering and made my application to Sciences Po more attractive, as the university receives thousands of applications from all over the world each year. I strongly encourage students planning to study abroad take IELTS with the British Council as it unlocks unlimited opportunities you never imagined possible."

Application for the British Council East Asia IELTS Prize 2018/19 is now open to students who are permanent residents of the East Asia region[2] and intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies locally or abroad in 2019 in a tertiary institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements. Applicants must hold a minimum band score of 6 in each of the four test sections of an IELTS test taken with the British Council in the East Asia region[3] from 1 April 2018 onwards. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2019. For details and the application, please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/ieltsprize/application.

As an official test centre, the British Council in Korea organises up to four paper-based IELTS tests and more than twenty computer-based IELTS tests a month, providing students with flexibility. British Council also offers full support to students preparing for an IELTS test, including a free 30-hour online practice resource for registered students (Road to IELTS), and a range of other free online preparation materials. Please visit https://www.ieltsasia.org/kr/en for more details.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. The British Council provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. britishcouncil.org

About International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

My Math Path will integrate MCE's world-renowned Singapore Math® pedagogy, which emphasizes teaching students to think critically and persevere when solving problems with applications to real-life situations. "Building math content mastery is foundational to each student's learning journey," said Steve Brown, NELSON President and CEO, "as strengthening these computational skills in their formative years will prepare them for continued success in post-secondary education and broaden future career pathways."

Program content will be 100% aligned to Canadian curriculum and developed using the Concrete Pictorial-Abstract Approach, which allows students to master math concepts, develop critical thinking, and strengthen problem-solving skills. The program will include a robust offering of Student and Teacher Resources, including an online centre, virtual manipulatives, and games that provide hands-on experiences, fostering positive attitudes towards math.

"Singapore Math® has a global track record of improving student achievement and has contributed to Singapore students' outstanding performance in mathematics over the past 20 years," said Peng Yim Siew, CEO Times Publishing Group, "and we are excited by the opportunity to exclusively partner with NELSON to create a new custom offering that addresses many of the math challenges faced by Canadian educators and students."

The My Math Path program will also include professional development for educators, with structured support and tools that empower them for classroom implementation and give them the ability to meet the learning needs of each of their students.

"The collaborative efforts between NELSON's product team and MCE will facilitate a progressive roll-out of this national Grades 1-8 math program for the upcoming school year," said Brown, "complementing NELSON's existing math offering, to ensure that students and educators have access to a comprehensive resource portfolio to boost confidence and mathematical understanding across our country."

About Marshall Cavendish Education

Marshall Cavendish Education (www.mceducation.com) is the authentic provider of Singapore Math® educational solutions. For nearly 40 years, Marshall Cavendish Education has been a leading academic publisher of K-12 math textbooks, workbooks, and digital curricula, as well as a respected provider of professional development for educators. With headquarters in Singapore and US offices in Tarrytown, NY, Marshall Cavendish Education has been on a mission to revitalize math instruction in classrooms worldwide. The company's products have been adopted by educators and embraced by students in over 50 countries.

About NELSON

NELSON is Canada's largest and leading educational publisher. NELSON believes in the evolution of life-long education and dedicates its business efforts to the creation of quality, innovative solutions that support the needs of every student, and educator to empower learning success. For more information about NELSON, visit us at Nelson.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

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https://en.prnasia.com/story/232239-0.shtml
EDUHEDPUBJVNPDTTue, 11 Dec 2018 21:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232161-0.shtml
SUZHOU, China, Dec. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University(XJTLU) in Suzhou, China, are investigating how to use technology to replicate the brain's natural abilities to process speech. Their work has the potential to greatly improve hearing aids, and has applications in other areas.

Mouth tracking methods developed by XJTLU researchers

Dr Andrew Abel and his fellow researchers are moving towards what's being called a 'cognitive hearing aid' - one inspired by the brain. "Many conventional hearing aids work by amplifying certain frequencies that the user has trouble hearing," says Dr Abel.

"Some hearing aids have noise-cancelling algorithms, reducing the volume of frequencies not used in human speech, or directional microphones to detect sound only from specific directions. The next step is to design hearing aids that can use additional information, for example visual information provided by a camera, to improve the filtering."

Ultimately, Dr Abel and his colleagues hope to incorporate word recognition and prediction-based speech processing, as well as environment recognition and other visual information, into an improved hearing aid that thinks like we do.

"When we talk to each other, we don't just rely on sound," says Dr Abel, who is from the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at XJTLU. "We look at each other's faces, we look at each other's body language, and we all lip-read to an extent. So far, we've been unable to incorporate these things into hearing aid technology. That's ultimately what we're looking to change."

"When we can understand and replicate what actually happens when we listen, we will not only be able to improve hearing aids, but we will learn so much about ourselves, and how our minds work."

Dr Abel is currently focussed on studying the fundamentals of how visual input can be effective. The first step is processing images to isolate relevant information about lip movement.

A new system devised by Dr Abel, XJTLU graduate Chengxiang Gao, and researchers from the University of Stirling, can track the movements of a subject's mouth, determining whether the mouth is open or closed, and the width and depth of the mouth when it is open (referred to as 'lip features').

"The information is used to build up three-dimensional representations of what is going on in the mouth," explains Dr Abel. "This 3D representation can be used to estimate volume and pitch characteristics of speech, which could then potentially be applied to the noise-reduction function of a hearing aid. They can also be used for lip reading, and this is also part of our research."

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), a partnership between Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool, UK, is an international university that aims to combine the best practices of eastern and western education to produce creative thinkers and global citizens. All programmes are delivered in English.

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https://en.prnasia.com/story/232161-0.shtml
HRDSTWCPREDUHEDSTMTue, 11 Dec 2018 14:15:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232158-0.shtmlHOUSTON, Dec. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SK Innovation has donated $50,000 to the Korean Studies Program at Rice University in Houston, Texas, USA, its second donation since October of last year.

David W. Leebron, President of Rice University (fifth from left, front row) and Kim Taewon, SK Innovation E&P President (sixth from left, front row) attended the scholarship donation ceremony on the 6th of December.

Kim Taewon, President of SK E&P America, (SK Exploration & Production) attended the scholarship donation ceremony at Rice Universityon December 6 with David W. Leebron, President of Rice University.

The donation will be used to further promote Korea in its Korean Studies Scholarship Program for academic studies, language education, social events like "Korea Night", and scholarships for students.

Last June, Rice University students who were SK scholarship recipients in Korean Studies, participated in a six-week long program in Korea. During their stay, they visited SK Innovation's production base in Ulsan at the SK Ulsan Complex (or SK Ulsan CLX). Their thank you cards, although not in perfect Korean, expressed their passion and strong interest in Korea, as well as their gratitude for the opportunity to visit Korea on a SK scholarship.

Since relocating its E&P Head Office from Seoul to Houston, Texas in January 2017, SK Innovation has placed a priority on community activities, including philanthropy and volunteering activities, to give back to the local community.

Last May, SK Innovation E&P employees volunteered at the Houston Food Bank, serving the homeless and low income families, to share their corporate values of supporting the local community. Their activities were warmly received by the local community and the press, which commended SK Innovation's management philosophy of "growth with locals." SK Innovation E&P employees continue to share their values of growing together through volunteering activities with the Houston Food Bank, which they had also volunteered with last October.

SK Innovation E&P President Kim Taewon said, "I am happy that we can share our values with the local community for two years in a row," and added, "I hope that our scholarship fund can present meaningful opportunities to promote Korea and Rice University, a representative of Houston, where the SK E&P head office is located."

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EDUHEDCSRTue, 11 Dec 2018 14:02:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232082-0.shtmlBEIJING, Dec. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In November 2018, the Amgen Foundation expanded the Amgen Scholars Program (ASP) to 24 premier educational and research institutions worldwide. Tsinghua University was selected as the first and only Chinese host institution for the ASP and is now accepting global applications.

The ASP is an undergraduate summer research program, initiated by the Amgen Foundation through a 16-year, $74 million commitment. This 8-10-week program recruits outstanding undergraduates from across the globe, who have strong interests in biomedicine, life sciences or related fields, to conduct cutting-edge research at world-class laboratories and institutions. So far, 5,400 undergraduates from around 600 universities in 33 countries have joined the ASP.

The ASP's host institutions for 2019-2022 include 24 leading universities worldwide, such as Harvard University, Stanford University and University of Cambridge, and including four distinguished hosts from Asia: The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University. As the ASP's first and only host institution in China, Tsinghua will fully leverage its world-class research capabilities and talents, while working closely with the Amgen Foundation, to offer high-potential and high-caliber young scholars the opportunity to participate in frontier research.

The Tsinghua ASP will select 15 candidates worldwide, whom will be paired with voluntary mentors upon enrollment. They will have the opportunity to participate in frontier biomedical research projects at state-of-the-art lab facilities, alongside senior scientists and top Tsinghua faculty. These immersive and intensive trainings will help scholars enhance their experimental skills, gain hands-on lab experiences and build a solid foundation for their further development. In addition, the Amgen Scholars will be encouraged to interact with Tsinghua students and attend a variety of seminars, symposiums and networking events both at Tsinghua and in other host institutions.

In recent years, Tsinghua University actively sought to cultivate diversified talents and facilitate international collaborations and has made significant progress in innovation-driven talent development. Tsinghua's main correspondent collaborator for the ASP is the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPS), which has played an important role in the university's life sciences development and frontier biomedical research. The ASP will serve as the first of many future collaborations between Tsinghua University and the Amgen Foundation.

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EDUHEAHEDMTCPDTMon, 10 Dec 2018 23:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232081-0.shtmlBEIJING, Dec. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. Shaoyun Han, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) ("Tarena" or the "Company"), a leading provider of professional education services in China, today informed the board of directors (the "Board") of the Company that he has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the "SPA") with Banyan Enterprises Limited and Banyan Enterprises A Limited (together, the "Purchasers"), pursuant to which Mr. Han agreed to sell a total of 847,817 Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company for a purchase price of US$7.077 per share (or US$6,000,000.00 in the aggregate) to the Purchasers (the "Transaction"). According to Mr. Han, the purpose of the Transaction is to repay his personal loan borrowed earlier to purchase Tarena's Class A Ordinary shares. Mr. Han has filed a related Schedule 13D/A with the SEC on December 10, 2018, and has informed the Board that the Transaction has been closed.

According to the agreements filed by Mr. Han as exhibits to the Schedule 13D/A, under certain circumstances as provided in the SPA, Mr. Han has an obligation to compensate the Purchasers if the actual transfer price per share is lower than the purchase price per share in the Transaction plus simple interest rate of 6% per annum for certain period as stated in the SPA. In the event future share price is higher than the purchase price per share in the Transaction, the Purchasers will pay to Mr. Han an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the result of the sales profit minus the purchase price in the Transaction.

About Tarena International, Inc.

Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) is a leading provider of professional education services in China. Through its innovative education platform combining live distance instruction, classroom-based tutoring and online learning modules, Tarena offers professional education courses in IT and non-IT subjects. Tarena also offers kid education programs. Its professional education courses provide students with practical skills to prepare them for jobs in industries with significant growth potential and strong hiring demand. Since its inception in 2002, Tarena has trained over 539,000 students, cooperated with approximately 757 universities and colleges and placed students with approximately 141,000 corporate employers in a variety of industries.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Tarena may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Many factors, risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: Tarena's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract students to enroll in its courses; its ability to continue to recruit, train and retain qualified instructors and teaching assistants; its ability to continually tailor its curriculum to market demand and enhance its courses to adequately and promptly respond to developments in the professional job market; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand recognition, its ability to maintain high job placement rate for its students, and its ability to maintain cooperative relationships with financing service providers for student loans. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Tarena's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Tarena does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

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FINEDUHEDMon, 10 Dec 2018 22:53:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/232011-0.shtmlTOKYO, Dec. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SIG Management, a prominent wealth management company based in Tokyo, Japan that believes the development of the local community is important, which is why they are constantly investing into local communities.

SIG Management has dedicated 1 million (USD) into a mixture of grants, internships and scholarships for students that come from low-income families and do not have access to private university education.

"During the next year SIG Management will give over 100 students the opportunity to access full-time private education in the top universities in Tokyo. The move is to help the less advantaged that come from lower socioeconomic background," commented Mr. Emishi Yasotaro, Head of Economic Research at SIG Management.

"Regardless of your background if you are a bright individual with passion and determination to succeed, that is what we recognize and should not go unnoticed which is why we are giving back to our communities," Mr. E Yasotaro added.

The scholarship will be awarded for a full financial academic course that can be continued depending on he/she's academic performance that will continue into an internship at the company.

Mr. Mitsui Soshitsu, Chief Executive Officer at SIG Management highlighted that the company will continue to invest in its local communities and help the success of the company in the long-term future.

About SIG Management

SIG Management is leading independent wealth Management Company offering services to both private clients and corporate institutions. We are fully committed not just to our clients, but also to the environment and the local community since we were founded in 2007.

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FINEDUHEDCSRMon, 10 Dec 2018 15:16:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/231741-0.shtmlCHENGDU, China, Dec. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 30, 2018, the Award Ceremony of 2018 International College Students' Culture & Arts Festival by Panda Club was held in Business & Innovation Centre for China-Europe Cooperation in Chengdu. Hosted by Chengdu Media Group and sponsored by Xianfeng Culture Media Co., Ltd., the festival has gathered over 300 university student representatives, famous designers, and artists from 16 countries and regions around the world in Chengdu to witness the birth of 11 International Youth Arts Awards.

It is reported that this year's International College Students' Culture & Arts Festival, by taking the opportunity when Chengdu is making vigorous efforts to develop the "Innovative and Creative, Elegant and Fashionable, Optimistic and Inclusive, Friendly and Charitable" Tianfu Culture and to build a world-famous cultural city, is aimed at publicizing the theme of "People-to-People Dialogue, Youth as First Mover, Self-Confidence and Openness, Cooperation and Sharing" to youth groups around the world. Through different forms of dialogues, Chengdu will have stronger cultural radiation and become more attractive. The promotion and dissemination of the soft power of urban culture of Chengdu can be enhanced so as to create a brand-new window displaying the Tianfu Culture and shape a city card for Chengdu to conduct foreign exchanges.

Three Major Activities Converged Global Artistic Resources

The four-day Festival set up three major activities including Chengdu Theme Exhibition, Arts Festival Review & Theme Forum, and Award Ceremony of 2018 International College Student's Culture & Arts Festival by Panda Club. A great many of celebrities like Wan Shanhe, famous oil painter; Zhang Jinyao, vice-dean of Institute of Art of Communication University of China and director of the China Literature and Art Critics Association (CLACA);Peng Hui, director at the national level, vice chairman of Chinese Film TV Artists Association and deputy secretary-general of Documentary Films Academic Committee of China Television Artists Association;Mona Al Mansouri, royal costume designer of the United Arab Emirates;Dusan Rapos, famous film director, screenwriter, and composer in Slovakia, and Yin Jiulong, famous designer and visual artist have been invited to the activities.

On November 27, the 2018 International College Student's Culture & Arts Festival Chengdu Theme Exhibition opened in the Daci Temple International Youth Community. The exhibition brought together outstanding art works from both domestic and foreign college students and literary works focusing on Chengdu, presenting a visual feast of the collision between Chengdu elements and international multi-artistic styles. It also marks the full launch of the 2018 International College Students' Culture & Arts Festival. On November 29, the theme forum of the festival was held. Guests made dialogues and exchanges on "Youth Cultural and Artistic Exchange and City Image Building in the New Era", and looked ahead to the future of youth culture and art from different perspectives.

Taking the Arts Festival as an OpportunityTo Show the World the New Look of Tianfu Culture in the New Era

As early as June this year, the Panda Club invited manuscripts on the topic of "Seeing the Future of Chengdu Here" to students from over 100 colleges from more than 20 countries and regions around the world, covering four major fields including photography, micro film, painting and fashion design. Through four months of collection, nearly 2,000 entries submitted by over 1,000 college students from around the world have been received, and 11 Art Awards have been finally selected through professional and public selection.

According to the organizing committee of the Arts Festival, taking the Festival as an opportunity, Chengdu will establish friendly relations on youth cultural exchanges with famous cultural cities in countries and regions such as Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Serbia, Latvia, Sudan, South Sudan, Ghana, South Korea, Britain and the United States, set up a global platform -- Worldwide Universities Network for cultural exchanges and sharing among young people so as to connect the world with culture, show the new look of Tianfu Culture in the new era to the world, and build Chengdu into a world famous cultural city.

- Kindai University to hold an event in Taipei to mark the 50th anniversary of the start of its exchanges with Taiwan.- It will showcase Kindai's latest research at a business forum and a workshop on research seeds.- It will provide an opportunity for young people interested in Japan to deepen their understanding of Kindai by setting up a counseling booth for foreign students and introducing school clubs.

Overview of the project

KindaiUniversity will hold an event aimed at further deepening friendly relations through exchanges with Taiwan's universities and companies in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Kindai starting exchanges with Taiwan. Kindai started exchanging with Taiwan through its Correspondence Division in 1968. Even though diplomatic relations between Japan and Taiwan were severed in 1972, Kindai has been building close relations with Taiwan by resuming accepting students in 1973 and providing schooling on the sea in Taiwan, among other efforts. Kindai has continued to exchange with Taiwan and accepted 1,680 students from the island so far as it concluded agreements with Taiwan's universities and so forth in recent years.

On the day of the event, a total of 300 people, including graduates, enrolled students and staff from Japan, Mainland China and the U.S., will converge in Taiwan to pump up the event. Apart from a filleting display and tasting of "Kindai Tuna," the bluefin tuna that Kindai has successfully farm-raised for the first time in the world, there will be must-attend programs for businesspeople such as a speech by Kindai University General Affairs Director Ishihiro Seko, known for his book titled "Shingekiteki Daigaku (Aggressive University), and a workshop on research seeds. Among other programs are e-sports competitions involving Naoki Sugimura, a Kindai student who represented Japan in sports video game "Winning Eleven 2018" and won the gold medal at the Asian Games, as well as a counseling booth for foreign students and a program for introducing school clubs. Furthermore, "KINDAI GIRLS," a performance unit for Kindai's entrance ceremony produced by Tsunku, a former producer for all-girl group Morning Musume, will put on spectacular performances. There will be plenty of other programs, including a booth for Japanese cuisine and a raffle draw.

- Date: Dec. 21 (Fri.), 2018- Place: Taipei International Convention Center (Exit 1 at Taipei 101-World Trade Center)- People who can attend: General public, high school/university students, Kindai University graduates (free admission)- How to apply: Applications can be filed through the website http://www.kindaiexpo2018.com/

Please make advance notice and cover the event on the day. If covering the event, please notify Public Relations Office in advance.

Main programs

- Opening ceremonyKINDAI GIRLS' performances and others

- Business forum-- "Shingekiteki Daigaku" (Aggressive University) by Kindai University General Affairs Director Ishihiro Seko-- "e-sports competitions" by 4th-year Kindai University students and Naoki Sugimura-- "History of Kindai Tuna" by Shukei Masuma at Kindai University Fisheries Laboratory

-- Prizes include an observation tour of Kindai University campus and goods related to the university.The campus tour is for two days and limited to 3 persons.It will come with a meal at Kindai University Fisheries Laboratory, a restaurant where one can eat "Kindai Tuna."

- Workshop on research seeds.Kindai University's latest research to be announced. There will be an exhibition booth for industry-academia collaboration products.

- Road to Kindai UniversityIntroduction of the university, information session on entrance examinations, and counseling service

Emphasizing on challenges, roles, and youth participation on the electoral processes, key speakers at the seminar were Hasanuddin Ali, CEO and Founder of the Alvara Research Center, as well as book author of "Millennial Nusantara"; Adi Prayitno, political observer of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta; and Juri Ardiantoro, an expert of the Indonesia's Presidential Staff Office (KSP), previously served as General Election Commission (KPU)'s Chairman.

"Politics participation is not just about selecting a candidate, but how we, as young generation, represent the best about our national spirit. Unfortunately, many young generation still show their apathy to participate, or choose a candidate on an emotional basis, not rational thoughts," said Asrorun Ni'am Sholeh, Deputy Minister of Youth Development, at the opening event.

Asrorun added that millennials aged 18-38 years are now dominating the total population in Indonesia. According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Home Affairs' DP4, out of a total of more than 5 million voters in 2019, 55% are coming from beginner voters aged 17-38 years. A research from the Alvara Research Center added, 8 out of 10 millennial generations are connected to the internet, which means that they are very active in using social media. Unfortunately, political content still occupies the top position of hoax and fake news content. "Hence, it is important to combat hoaxes and disinformation with rational literacy and thoughts. We need to emphasize diversity as the wealth of our nation, not to be opposed to achieving certain political goals," said Sholeh.

Responding to this issue, Hasanuddin Ali, CEO and Founder of the Alvara Research Center, shared his strategy during a discussion session entitled "Peran Pemuda dalam Pemilu." Based on research conducted by the Alvara Research Center, Hasanuddin explained, there was a special phenomenon in millennial politics, which lower their loyalty level in selecting a candidate. Additionally, there are many young people who rely their information's sources on social media and today, only 22.3% of young people are still reading a newspaper.

"In fact, social media has a special algorithm. We are unconscious that we only get news according to our interests. Thus, the information we received may be essentially subjective. It is important for young generation to be more observant by filtering any information before sharing on social media, in order to avoid any hatred, hoaxes, and disinformation," said Hasanuddin Ali.

Information filtering process is highly important, particularly to curate content on social media. "Politics is about beliefs and society, thus we need to unite and tackle every hoax or slander about politics on social media. This is being an important part of non-conventional political participation, that is crucial to succeed national politics ecosystems in Indonesia. Youth may have different choices, however, don't ever let them spread hatred and slander against other candidates," said Adi Prayitno, political observer of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, during a discussion session entitled "Agar Milenial Melek Politik."

Adi Prayitno explained rational voters as individual who chooses candidates based on vision, mission, reputation, and progressive program. Unfortunately, the participation of the youth and the community in voting a candidate has now declined. In a discussion session entitled "Menangkal Hoax, Menjadi Pemilih Cerdas," Juri Ardiantoro, an expert of the Indonesia's Presidential Staff Office (KSP), previously served as General Election Commission (KPU)'s Chairmanexplained, "There are two reasons behind this phenomenon. First, the tendency of people that are unwilling to vote; and second, there are a lot of people, now reaches 30 million people in Indonesia, who are still confused to decide their choices."

Juri Ardiantoro added, the two phenomena above now become a democratic paradox. "If youth want to be involved, it will certainly bring the nation to a better prosperity. Conversely, if the right to vote is not used, then we will bear the huge loss. Always keep in mind that almost all state affairs and nationalities are decided by people elected in the election. Therefore, this special moment of the 2019 election will become an opportunity for youth to build a better democracy for the Indonesian nation," as concluded by Juri Ardiantoro.

About Ministry of Youth and Sports of Republic of Indonesia (Kemenpora):

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenpora) is a ministry within the Government of Indonesia that is in charge of youth and sports affairs of Indonesia. In order to perform their duties, Kemenpora has a vision: to increase youth potential resources by utilizing cross-sectoral partnerships among levels of government; manifesting youths' character, capacity, and competitiveness through the preparation of youth cadres according to the characteristics of youth who have the spirit of stability, volunteerism, and responsibility; increase the potential of sports resources by utilizing cross-sectoral, intergovernmental, and community partnerships; as well as realizing athlete achievement in competition at regional and international levels.

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EDUHEDCHISVYTDSWed, 5 Dec 2018 13:10:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/231558-0.shtmlMANILA, Philippines, Dec. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in the UK has recently announced changes to its English language proficiency requirements for overseas nurses and midwives wishing to work in the UK.

Under the change, nurses and midwives wishing to work in the UK will still be required to achieve a minimum overall score of 7.0 in IELTS, however, a 6.5 score in the Writing section of the test will be accepted alongside a 7.0 score in each of the Reading, Listening and Speaking sections of the test.

The British Council in the Philippines, which administers IELTS across 17 locations nationwide, recognises the opportunity this change provides test takers wanting to work in the nursing profession in the UK.

The British Council has considerable experience providing test takers with the support and resources they need to achieve the band score they require, including a range of complimentary face-to-face services such as the IELTS Exceed Writing workshop. It also has an online test preparation course (Road to IELTS), practice test materials, and mobile apps, all of which are free for test takers.

Commenting on the NMC announcement, Country Director, British Council in the Philippines, Pilar Aramayo Prudencio, said:

"IELTS is one of the world's most popular high-stakes English language tests, with over three million tests taken in the past year. We look forward to continuing to provide support and guidance to nurses and midwives looking to work in the UK, so that they may achieve the IELTS score requirements announced by the NMC."

The NMC has stated that the change to the Writing score requirement will take effect from 5 December 2018.

IELTS is the most widely used test of English for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. It is recognised by more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies, including all universities in Australia and the UK and many leading institutions in the USA.

The success of IELTS rests on the high quality of the test, which measures the four key languages skills -- listening, speaking, reading and writing. It is backed by dedicated research teams in the UK and Australia and administered by centres in more than 140 countries around the world.

Notes to editors

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with more than 3 million tests taken in the last year.

Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation purposes.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities and provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries.

For more information on taking IELTS with the British Council in the Philippines contact +632 555 3000.

About the test

Test takers are measured in listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. All tests are scored on a banded system from 1 (non-user) through to 9 (expert user).

IELTS offers a choice of two tests, to serve both academic and non-academic purposes. IELTS Academic measures English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher learning environment. The tasks and texts are accessible to all test takers, irrespective of their subject focus. IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and texts reflect both workplace and social situations. IELTS General Training is suitable for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and Ireland.

A sample of government and professional associations who recognise or require applicants to hold an IELTS test result include:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Department of Home Affairs (Australia)

UK Visas and Immigration

Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and National Council of State Boards of Nursing, USA

International Monetary Fund

For further media information, please contact:

Danica Tuliao, Exams Marketing Manager, British Council in the Philippines, +632 555 3000

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Dec. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities (CGBC) at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) announced today the completion of HouseZero, the retrofitting of its headquarters in a pre-1940s building in Cambridge into an ambitious living-laboratory and an energy-positive prototype for ultra-efficiency that will help us to understand buildings in new ways. The design of HouseZero has been driven by radically ambitious performance targets from the outset, including nearly zero energy for heating and cooling, zero electric lighting during the day, operating with 100 percent natural ventilation, and producing zero carbon emissions. The building is intended to produce more energy over its lifetime than was used to renovate it and throughout its subsequent operation. Snøhetta was the project's lead architect and Skanska Teknikk Norway was the lead energy engineer.

Leveraging HouseZero as both a workspace and a research tool, the CGBC will use millions of data points from hundreds of sensors embedded within each component of HouseZero to continually monitor its performance. This sensory data will also provide Harvard's researchers with an unprecedented understanding of complex building behavior. This data will, in turn, fuel research involving computational simulation, helping the CGBC develop new systems and data-driven learning algorithms that promote energy-efficiency, health, and sustainability.

"HouseZero's flexible, data-driven infrastructure will allow us to further research that demystifies building behavior, and design the next generation of ultra-efficient structures," said Ali Malkawi, founding director of the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities and the creator and leader of the HouseZero project. "By creating both a prototype and an infrastructure for long-term research, we hope to raise interest in ultra-efficient retrofits and inspire substantial shifts in the design and operation of buildings."

"Harvard HouseZero is an extraordinary physical example of efficiency and transformative design," said Mohsen Mostafavi, Dean of Harvard GSD and the Alexander and Victoria Wiley Professor of Design. "As a living laboratory, it equips Harvard students and researchers with an unparalleled, innovative infrastructure for exploration and research as they design the next generation of sustainable buildings and cities around the world."

As a prototype, HouseZero works to address one of the biggest energy problems in the world today—inefficient existing buildings. The U.S. building stock is responsible for around 40 percent of energy consumption, with housing nearly a quarter of that use. Property owners spend more than $230 billion annually heating, cooling and powering its 113.6 million homes. Addressing the energy-inefficiencies locked into this problematic building stock offers tremendous opportunity for curbing its impact on climate change. Paving the way through ultra-efficient retrofit strategies, HouseZero creates a blueprint for reducing energy demands and increasing cost savings for property owners.

"HouseZero demonstrates how to solve that problem by optimizing current technologies to achieve unprecedented building performance," said Malkawi. "HouseZero challenged us to rethink the conventions of building design and operation to enhance lifelong efficiency and quality of life for occupants." The ultra-efficiency of HouseZero lies at the intersection of cutting-edge technologies and applications of established, low-tech architectural design solutions. An example is natural ventilation, which is controlled by a window actuation system, which employs sophisticated software and sensors arrays to automatically open and close windows to maintain a quality internal environment throughout the year. The building itself will strive for best possible comfort; however a window can always be opened manually to ensure individual comfort still remains firmly tethered to human instinct.

HouseZero will be used to research how to fundamentally redefine how a structure can connect with and respond to its natural environment to promote efficiency and health. Rather than approaching the building as a "sealed box," the building envelope and materials of HouseZero were designed to interact with the seasons and the exterior environment in a more natural way. The building will adjust itself constantly—sometimes by the minute— to reach thermal comfort for its occupants.

As a living lab, the Center's researchers are afforded inspiring surroundings that they themselves will be able to control and adapt. With time, the CGBC's research has the potential to greatly diminish the environmental impact of the building industry through widespread sharing and implementation of HouseZero's findings and data-driven building research across new construction and future building renovations worldwide.

About the Harvard Center for Green Buildings & Cities

The Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities aims to transform the building industry through a commitment to design-centric and computationally-driven strategies that directly link research outcomes to the development of new processes, systems, and products. By strongly emphasizing innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration, the Center will work to promote holistic change within the built environment, namely the creation and continued improvement of sustainable, efficient, high performance buildings and cities. The CGBC was established at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2014.

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CSTEDUENVHEDENITue, 4 Dec 2018 01:16:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/231294-0.shtmlLONDON, Dec. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Financial Times (FT) first launched the Asia-Pacific Top Business Schools Ranking in 2017. Recently, the ranking was released again on Dec. 3, 2018, in which Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, ranked first for the second consecutive year, followed by Ceibs and National University of Singapore Business School.

The Asia-Pacific Business Schools Ranking was made by comprehensively considering the quality and breadth of business schools' programs and based on the performance of the four core programs (MBA, EMBA, MIM, EE Open & Custom) of business schools from academic programs to professional programs in 2018. Each of the four core programs accounted for 25% of the total, and in each individual ranking, independent programs received 100% of the ranking score, and joint programs of two business schools received 50% of the score for each school. The ranking method scientifically strengthened the core independent program indicator in the competitiveness of various business schools, and objectively evaluated the international level of basic academic education and professional education provided by business schools.

Financial Times Asia-Pacific Business Schools 2018: ACEM Ranked First for Two Consecutive Years

ACEM is the only Asia-Pacific business school among all FT's individual rankings. In 2018, the four core programs of ACEM continue to rank among the top 40 in the world and the top 10 in the Asia-Pacific region:

The Global MBA ranking announced in January 2018:ACEM's MBA program ranked 34th in the world and 8th in the Asia-Pacific region, being first in "employment" and "salary increase" in the world

The Executive Education (EE) ranking announced in May 2018:ACEM's EE program ranked 17th in the world, with custom program and open program being 2nd and 1st respectively in the Asia-Pacific region

The Masters in Management (MIM) ranking announced in September 2018: ACEM's MIM program ranked 18th in the world and 1st in the Asia-Pacific region, being among the world's top 50 for ten consecutive years, and being first in "employment" and "salary increase" in the world

The EMBA ranking announced in October 2018:ACEM's EMBA program ranked 8th in the world and 4th in the Asia-Pacific region, being among the world's top 10 for four consecutive years, and being first in "salary increase" in the world

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EDUHEDAWDMon, 3 Dec 2018 17:35:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/231142-0.shtmlThe Five-Year Program Affords Both China Diploma and U.S. Bachelor Degree]]>
BEIJING, Nov. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambow Education Holding Ltd. ("Ambow" or the "Company") (NYSE American: AMBO), a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, today announced the launch of a new Cross-Border College Program (the "Program") between Chinese and U.S. colleges. The new five-year Program is designed to satisfy the desire of Chinese students seeking to earn a Bachelor of Science degree acceptable to employers both in China and the United States. At the same time, the Program will enable many small U.S. colleges that may be experiencing financially challenging times, to increase their enrollments with well-qualified, full-paying Chinese students.

Ambow is currently assembling a group of U.S. and Chinese colleges that will participate in the Program, which is based on a model currently being instituted at Boston'sBay State College (acquired by Ambow in November 2017). The Program will allow Chinese students to receive a three-year diploma from a Chinese college - equivalent to an associate degree from a U.S. college - and continue with a two-year advanced education program at Bay State College or another U.S. college. During the first three years of study in China, Ambow will provide curricula and faculties for some general education courses, such as American history and English literature, as well as some technical-related courses. After finishing the first three-years of study and earning the requisite academic requirements, students will receive 60 qualifying credit hours that Bay State College or other U.S. college participating in the Program will recognize with full credit toward a bachelor degree.

The new Program will provide thousands of Chinese students with cross-border learning experiences and the opportunity to receive a U.S. bachelor's degree upon graduation. For those students who complete the Program and return to China to seek employment, Ambow will provide job placement services by leveraging the Company's partnerships with more than 4,000 China corporations.

More than half of China's college graduates in 2017 received a three-year diploma rather than a four-or-five-year baccalaureate degree. Studies have shown that students with three-year diploma degrees in China, generally oriented to non-technical vocations, do not command the same job and salary opportunities as those available to graduates with a four-or-five-year baccalaureate degree. Most colleges in China are authorized to offer four-or-five-year bachelor programs, but commonly face challenges offering up-to-date quality training to prepare students for desirable high-paying technical positions in fields such as integrated circuit design, software development, artificial intelligence (AI), database management, that require high-tech skills necessary to meet the goals of China's growing high-tech economy.

"Ambow's ability to create a technology-based curriculum that closely follows dynamic industry demand, provide seasoned faculty, offer international study opportunities, and place graduates in high-paying, high-tech jobs assists Chinese colleges in recruiting highly motivated students," commented Dr. Jin Huang, Ambow's President and Chief Executive Officer. "At the same time, we are creating added value for U.S. colleges to meet their financial goals and promote campus diversity by increasing enrollment of well-qualified, full-paying Chinese students. Achieving this mutually beneficial outcome for both students and colleges will require close cooperation among Chinese and U.S. colleges, various regulatory and U.S. accreditation agencies, and a capable coordinating partner such as Ambow."

Dr. Huang noted that Ambow currently has partnerships with hundreds of China's colleges, with 46 of them offering technical programs jointly developed with Ambow and serving more than 30,000 students.

"We expect more colleges in China to partner with Ambow in this new Cross-Border College Program. Looking forward, with the cross-border model in place at Bay State College, we have a strong stateside foundation to begin executing this program as we further expand our U.S. partnership base," Dr. Huang concluded.

About Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, offering high-quality, individualized services and products. With its extensive network of regional service hubs complemented by a dynamic proprietary learning platform and distributors, Ambow provides its services and products to students in 30 out of the 31 provinces and autonomous regions within China.

Follow us on Twitter: @Ambow_Education

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Ambow's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Ambow may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies, expansion plans, the expected growth of the content and application delivery services market, the Company's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with its customers, and the general economic and business conditions in the regions where the Company provides its solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Ambow undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

- Commemorative Event Marking 50th Anniversary of Exchanges between Kindai University and Taiwan Also Set to Be Held to Promote Friendly Relations -

Kindai University based in Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, has been selling "Kindai Mango Soft Candy," an agriculture-commerce collaboration product developed jointly by Kindai and UHA Mikakuto Co., Ltd., at 7-Eleven convenience stores in Taiwan since late October 2018.

Kindai and UHA Mikakuto have been selling the product for the first time in Taiwan.

The project is designed in part to showcase the results of practical learning ahead of "Kindai EXPO in Taiwan."

It is aimed at building recognition in Taiwan of Kindai by selling the soft candy using "Kindai Mango" raised at Kindai's experimental farm.

Outline of the project

"Kindai Mango Soft Candy" was jointly developed by Kindai and UHA Mikakuto through industrial-academic collaborative efforts with the participation of teachers and students from laboratories of Kindai's faculties of pharmacy, literature, arts and cultural studies, and business administration. The undertaking, featuring the combination of humanities and sciences, took advantage of each area of expertise to achieve the whole process ranging from extracting and analyzing collagen to designing the package and promoting the product. The mango used in the product is "Kindai Mango" (cultivar: Irwin) grown on Kindai's experimental farm.

The product has been sold ahead of the "Kindai EXPO in Taiwan," an event marking the 50th anniversary of the start of exchanges between Kindai and Taiwan, to be held on December 21 (Friday), 2018. On the day of the event, "Kindai Mango Soft Candy" and other industry-academia collaboration products will be sold, providing an opportunity not only for foreign students who are interested in Japan but also for businesspeople to know about the university's latest research.

Product name: Kindai Mango Soft Candy

Designation (by category): Soft candy

Net weight: 62 g (including wrapping paper)

Sales: 10,800 packages (as of late November)

Release date: Late October 2018

Place: 7-Eleven convenience stores in Taiwan

Brief overview of "Kindai Mango Soft Candy"

It is a product using "Kindai Mango" (cultivar: Irwin) raised on Kindai's experimental farm called "Yuasa Farm." Taking advantage of relatively warm weather, the farm, established in 1952, has been engaged in research on mango cultivation since 1987. "Kindai Mango" is a fruit brand characterized by the smoothness on the palate and rich sweetness.

It is made of soft candy using puree based on "Kindai Mango" coupled with "puchi puchi gummy" -- the main characteristic of the product -- in such a way as to make one feel the smoothness and rich sweetness. The package design features the "sizzle" to communicate the soft candy and Kindai's collaborative effort to consumers.

It is an event aimed at further deepening exchanges between Taiwan and Japan through exchanges with Taiwan's universities and companies on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Kindai accepting students from Taiwan. Besides a business forum, a workshop on research seeds and a consulting corner will be set up.

Please feel free to use the images on the project provided on the following website.https://goo.gl/66nurK

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AGRFODHEDREAJVNFri, 30 Nov 2018 14:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/230807-0.shtmlCreating champions for the development of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy]]>

GENEVA and HANGZHOU, China, Nov. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 38 Asian entrepreneurs have successfully completed the fourth edition of the eFounders Fellowship, a joint initiative by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Alibaba Business School. The Fellowship aims to help bridge the digital divide and enable young entrepreneurs with the right skills for their businesses, and encourages them to share their newly acquired knowledge with the communities they operate in.

Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma in dialogue with 4th class for eFounders participants on entrepreneurship

The graduation of the fourth eFounders class means Alibaba is on target to fulfil the pledge made by Jack Ma, founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, in his capacity as the UNCTAD Special Adviser for Young Entrepreneurs and Small Business. The commitment seeks to empower 1,000 entrepreneurs in developing countries by creating champions for inclusive and sustainable economic development through the digital economy over the next five years.

"This initiative amplifies many of the efforts made by the international community to support digital transformation and innovation for inclusive and sustainable development," said Arlette Verploegh, UNCTAD eFounders Fellowship programme coordinator. "Investing in youth entrepreneurship can inspire other entrepreneurs in their endeavors and help create awareness about challenges they face and the opportunities the modern economy offers."

Champions for the New Digital Economy

Newly enriched curriculum provided entrepreneurs with first-hand insights on Alibaba's journey from a small start-up to a successful technology conglomerate.

Participants had a chance to understand the entrepreneurship spirit at the core of Alibaba since it was founded, the integrated ecosystem of platforms including Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, Alibaba.com, Cainiao Network, Freshippo, in addition to relevant industry trends and developments such as New Retail and the impact of e-commerce in rural areas.

In a bid to foster more partnerships regionally through the fellowship network, the class also benefited from interactive sessions for fellows to engage with the lecturers, participants and advisors. Entrepreneurs witnessed the kick off of the landmark 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, experiencing the cutting-edge technology, concepts and milestones onsite. Additional field visits and lectures shed more light on the digital transformation that has swept China during the last 20 years.

The program imbued the participants with a greater appreciation of Alibaba Group's support of the digital economy's growth in China, encouraging them to explore how they can share their newly acquired knowledge with their communities back home. The entrepreneurs also developed a sense of global and social responsibility by reviewing their business plan against the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

"With exposure to the Alibaba ecosystem and our network of partners, and our role in developing the digital economy of China, we hope the entrepreneurs will discover more ways to build a more inclusive and sustainable model for their own businesses while championing the growth of the digital economy in their markets," said Brian Wong, Vice President of Alibaba Group, who heads Alibaba's Global Initiatives program.

Speakers from Alibaba's senior management team and network were joined by advisors from East Ventures, Gobi Ventures, 500 Startups and the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). The advisors shared insights and experiences from their local markets and fund raising with the entrepreneurs, including tips on how to grow an entrepreneurial community within their respective digital economies.

Creating a Global Fellowship for the World

The conclusion of the fourth edition saw entrepreneurs coming together to share ideas for improving their businesses, in addition to committing to seed the lessons they learned in e-commerce, FinTech, logistics, big data and tourism in their communities back home.

Following graduation, the 38 Asian candidates -- from 11 countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and joining them for the first time, entrepreneurs from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Singapore -- have been officially inducted as Fellows of the global eFounders Fellowship network. They join a cohort of 89 entrepreneurs who have graduated over the last three editions.

As part of the commitment by UNCTAD and Alibaba to ensure all Fellows actively apply what they have learned within their communities towards developing an inclusive and sustainable economic model, both organizations will continue to regularly monitor and support the progress of the Fellows every three months.

The eFounders Fellowship is part of a set of smart partnerships UNCTAD is creating to help countries reach the Sustainable Development Goals.

About Alibaba Group

Alibaba Group's mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere and the company aims to achieve sustainable growth for 102 years. For fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, the company reported revenues of US$39.9 billion.

Management will meet with institutional investors throughout these events. For additional information, please contact your respective institutional sales representative at each sponsoring bank.

About China Distance Education Holdings Limited

China Distance Education Holdings Limited is a leading provider of online education and value-added services for professionals and corporate clients in China. The courses offered by the Company through its websites are designed to help professionals seeking to obtain and maintain professional licenses and to enhance their job skills through our professional development courses in China in the areas of accounting, healthcare, engineering & construction, legal and other industries. The Company also offers professional education courses for participants in the national judicial examination, online test preparation courses for self-taught learners pursuing higher education diplomas or degrees, test preparation courses for university students intending to take the nationwide graduate school entrance exam, practical accounting training courses for college students and working professionals, as well as online language courses and third-party developed online courses. In addition, the Company provides business services to corporate clients, including but not limited to tax advisory and accounting outsourcing services. For further information, please visit http://ir.cdeledu.com.

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STWCPREDUHEDMLMWEBTue, 27 Nov 2018 19:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/230427-0.shtmlBEIJING, Nov. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The launch ceremony for Huiyan International College, co-established by the Faculty of Education at Beijing Normal University (FOE-BNU) and Bright Scholar Education Group (formerly Country Garden Education Group), was held on November 21, 2018. Huiyan International College will promote FOE-BNU's exchanges, cooperation and research in international education, establish an international educational system and set of standards with Chinese characteristics and build a team of leading international educational professionals.

Launch ceremony of Huiyan International College FOE-BNU

Huiyan International College is on track to become a world-leading international college of education that will cultivate a team of international experts with the skill sets to develop, administer and teach combined Chinese and international programs. The cooperation is expected to fill the gap in the Chinese market for recruitment and training of teachers in the field of international education as, to date, majors or programs in international education have never been available at any of China's normal universities.

"With the increasingly frequent exchanges in education among countries worldwide and the fiercer level of competition in the global educational market, institutes of higher learning are breaking down the boundaries between countries and facilitating the globalization of education," said Mr. Sun, the BNU Party Committee deputy secretary, in his welcome speech. "To respond to China's pressing demand for quality higher education against the backdrop of the globalization of higher education, Huiyan International College has been established as the first international college of education in China with the mission of cultivating a team of experts in international education. "

The college plans to make efforts in and contributions to the development of basic and research-based creative capabilities for applied talents in international education, in addition to playing a part in the production of research and development outcomes with international influence, exchanges and research in the domain of global education and training of professionals with international skills.

"Nowadays, with the evolution of technology, international cooperation is on the rise," stated Ms. Yang, the Bright Scholar Education Holdings chairman, during her speech at the event. "In particular, in light of society's increasing demand for quality education, particularly international education, and of the Chinese government's further deepening of its reform and opening-up policy and ongoing implementation of its One Belt, One Road initiative, the importance of professors and administrators with international skill sets is being heightened."

The famed and more than century-old BNU has been a pioneer in China's modern higher normal education. With the mission of promoting national prosperity through education, the university has made outstanding contributions to the country's economic growth and social development as well as to its educational reform by cultivating a large number of competent teachers and other educational professionals.

With its long-term commitment to promoting the development of the Chinese educational cause, Chinese residential property developer Country Garden Holdings established the first Country Garden school in Shunde, Guangdong province in 1994, becoming a Chinese pioneer in private education. Currently, Bright Scholar Education Group has evolved into one of the largest K-12 educational enterprises in China, with 84 schools, kindergartens and training centers in operation across the country as of October 2018, spanning preschool, primary and secondary education, scholastic training and services as well as educational technology.

"Huiyan International College is committed to establishing a Sino-foreign cooperation-based educational system, developing international programs with Chinese characteristics and building a high-quality team of international teachers and researchers," added Ms. Yang. "In addition, the college plans to promote cooperation in education among countries targeted by the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative and cultivate a team of high-quality teachers and administrators with international skillsets, with the goal of becoming one of the world's leading international colleges of education."

Following the launch ceremony, BNU Party Committee secretary Li Jiayong announced several appointments: FOE-BNU director Zhu Xudong to assume the role as dean of Huiyan International College, Ms. Yang as honorary president of the college's International Management Committee, as well as He Junli and Cheng Jinsheng as members of the college's Global Development and Planning Committee.

Group photo of the staff at Huiyan International College FOE-BNU

At the same time, Huiyan International College FOE-BNU granted a license to Huiyan International College Bright Scholar Training Institute. Li Laixiang, president of Country Garden Silver Beach School, a Bright Scholar school, and Wu Zhihong, president of Guangdong Country Garden School, attended the launch ceremony.

Bright Scholar Education Group receiving the license for Huiyan International College Training Institute

The college will open its doors next year, initially enrolling 10 graduate students from all over the world

Bright Scholar inked a strategic cooperation framework agreement and a donation agreement with FOE-BNU on May 25, 2018. Huiyan International College - FOE-BNU, jointly established by the two organizations, will open its doors in 2019, with the plan to initially enroll 10 graduate students from around the world, who will take part in a two-year study program there.

In addition, the two organizations will form an international education and employment guidance platform. They had already initiated the first Bright Scholar & FOE-BNU employment fair in October 2018. In terms of international education teacher training, Bright Scholar plans to cooperate with BNU and University College London (UCL) to launch the first international school president training course.

Looking ahead, Bright Scholar will continue the close cooperation with FOE-BNU, starting with a series of internships (including short-term internships, courses focused on specific topics as well as mentoring programs), an international education teacher training project (the first training course is scheduled to begin next spring) and research into the exact mechanics of how an international educational program will be administrated, as well as developing a program for a variety of awards, including the outstanding educational contribution award.

The First Academic Forum on International Education focuses on development trends in international education

Group photo of the participants at the launch ceremony

After the launch ceremony, the college's First Academic Forum on International Education - "Development trends in China's international education in the new era" - was officially held.

Teng Jun, associate professor and deputy director of the Institute of International and Comparative Education at BNU, presided over the forum. FOE-BNU director Zhu Xudong, Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University president and deputy party secretary Li Xiaohui, Beijing New Oriental Academy president Gao Wei, Zhongguancun No.1 Primary School president Liu Chang, Bright Scholar Education Group regional director and Country Garden Silver Beach School president Li Laixiang, and Elite Education Group chairman Li Yanping, as well as executives from several entrepreneurial firms, delivered speeches on forum themes, focusing on development trends in China's international education and sharing new concepts concerning international education in general.

About Bright Scholar Education Group

Bright Scholar Education Group (formerly Country Garden Education Group) is a world-leading K12 education group and a strategic partner of Country Garden Group, one of the world's top 500 companies. The 24-year old group currently has more than 40,000 students, spanning preschool, primary and secondary education, scholastic training and services as well as educational technology, which is in wide deployment by the group.

On May 18, 2017, Bright Scholar was listed on the NYSE, and, as of today, has a market value exceeding 10 billion yuan (approx. US$1.5 billion). Based on the last quarterly report dated October 31, 2018, the group has 6 international schools, 15 bilingual schools, 45 kindergartens and 18 English training centers in 8 provinces across China, as well as partnerships with several top international institutions, including Beijing Normal University, Columbia University, University of California, Berkeley, University College London and Cambridge Assessment International Education.

Gathering and training quality teachers at home and abroad, Bright Scholar offers a platform where students can benefit from a fully-rounded education and achieve excellent results. Ninety percent of 2018 graduates of the group's DP, A-level and AP programs have received letters of admission from the world's top 50 universities, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the University of Chicago, University of California, Berkeley and Cornell University.

BEIJING, Nov. 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunlands Technology Group (NYSE: STG) ("Sunlands" or the "Company"), formerly known as Sunlands Online Education Group, a leader in China's online post-secondary and professional education, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Net loss was RMB226.3 million (US$32.9 million), representing a 12.7% decrease year-over-year. Net loss margin, defined as net loss as a percentage of net revenue, decreased to 43.8% from 98.1% in the third quarter of 2017.

The number of new student enrollments[1] was 120,241, representing a 14.5% increase year-over-year.

As of September 30, 2018, the balance of our deferred revenue was RMB3,116.2 million (US$453.7 million).

[1] New student enrollments for a given period refers to the total number of orders placed by students that newly enroll in at least one course during that period (including those students that enroll and then terminate their enrollment with us).

Mr. Tongbo Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Sunlands, said, "We are pleased to report revenues in line with guidance in the third quarter as tens of thousands more students chose to study with Sunlands. We also significantly reduced the net loss margin as we continued to gain operating leverage. During the third quarter, we continued to optimize our sales and marketing initiatives to build brand awareness and attract more students to our platform. We expanded the number of free trial classes to enable prospective students to experience the quality of our teaching methods and become familiar with our online and mobile learning platform. Free trial classes consistently led to a higher conversion rate and continued to improve the productivity of our sales efforts. We will continue to expand this initiative in the coming quarters."

"In the third quarter, we improved the average gross billings per student by introducing new offers that bundle value-added services such as AI-powered personalized study programs. Our students also continued to achieve STE pass rates significantly higher than the national average, demonstrating the benefits of using Sunlands' learning approach. With industry-leading pass rates and a lower price point than traditional bricks-and-mortar tutorial institutions, we are confident that we can continue to improve our pricing power in the future."

Mr. Steven Yipeng Li, Chief Financial Officer of Sunlands, said, "In the third quarter, we grew our net revenues by 95.8% year-over-year, mainly driven by strong growth in new student enrollments. We also continued to optimize our operations and marketing efforts to improve profitability. As a result, for the first time since the listing of our company, our net loss declined substantially, reflecting our progress towards profitability. In addition, our net loss as a percentage of net revenues dropped to 43.8% in the third quarter of 2018 from 98.1% for the same period in 2017. Looking forward, we plan to continue to invest in the development of quality educational content and our technology platform to continue to attract more students to our leading online one-to-many, live streaming platform."

Financial Results for the Third Quarter of 2018

Net Revenues

In the third quarter of 2018, our net revenues increased by 95.8% to RMB517.0 million (US$75.3 million) from RMB264.0 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase was mainly driven by the growth in new student enrollments. The increase in new student enrollments was driven primarily by the continuous improvement the quality of our online content offerings, our technology platform, as well as our increased sales, branding and marketing efforts.

Cost of Revenues

Our cost of revenues increased by 107.2% from RMB44.7 million in the third quarter of 2017 to RMB92.7 million (US$13.5 million) in the third quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to the increase in compensation for our faculty members, which mainly included teachers and mentors, as we continued to retain existing faculty members and attract new faculty members.

Gross Profit

Our gross profit increased by 93.5% to RMB424.4 million (US$61.8 million) from RMB219.3 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Operating Expenses

In the third quarter of 2018, our operating expenses were RMB696.3 million (US$101.4 million), representing a 45.4% increase from RMB478.9 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 58.6% to RMB542.0 million (US$78.9 million) in the third quarter of 2018 from RMB341.7 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase was mainly due to increases in (i) compensation paid to our sales and marketing personnel; and (ii) spending on branding and marketing activities, including investments in broadening our search engine and mobile application channels.

Our general and administrative expenses increased by 3.0% to RMB131.1 million (US$19.1 million) in the third quarter of 2018 from RMB127.3 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase was mainly due to the increase in employee compensation, mainly as a result of hiring more talent to further strengthen our general IT infrastructure development capability.

Our product development expenses increased by 134.7% to RMB23.2 million (US$3.4 million) in the third quarter of 2018 from RMB9.9 million in the third quarter of 2017. The increase was primarily due to an increase in compensation paid to our course and educational content professionals and technology development personnel during the quarter.

Net Loss

Net loss for the third quarter of 2018 was RMB226.3 million (US$32.9 million), compared with RMB259.1 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per share was RMB32.68(US$4.76) in the third quarter of 2018.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments

As of September 30, 2018, we had RMB1,278.7 million (US$186.2 million) of cash and cash equivalents and RMB1,088.2 million (US$158.4 million) of short-term investments, respectively, compared to RMB559.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and RMB353.1 million of short-term investments, respectively, as of December 31, 2017.

Deferred Revenue

As of September 30, 2018, we had deferred revenue of RMB3,116.2 million (US$453.7 million). Revenues related to our online courses are recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period. Deferred revenue consists of tuition fees received from students for which services have not yet been provided to students pursuant to the terms of those service contracts.

Capital Expenditures

Our capital expenditures were incurred primarily in connection with purchases of buildings and IT infrastructure equipment necessary to support our operations. Our capital expenditures were RMB10.3 million (US$1.5 million) in the third quarter of 2018, compared to RMB86.7 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Financial Results for the First Nine Months of 2018

Net Revenues

For the first nine months of 2018, our net revenues increased by 124.6% to RMB1,405.2 million (US$204.6 million) from RMB625.5 million in the first nine months of 2017.

Cost of Revenues

Our cost of revenues increased by 177.1% from RMB90.9 million in the first nine months of 2017 to RMB251.9 million (US$36.7 million) in the first nine months of 2018.

Gross Profit

Our gross profit increased by 115.7% to RMB1,153.3 million (US$167.9 million) from RMB534.6 million in the first nine months of 2017.

Operating Expenses

In the first nine months of 2018, our operating expenses were RMB1,972.9 million (US$287.3 million), representing a 91.6% increase from RMB1,029.6 million in the first nine months of 2017.

Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 94.5% to RMB1,622.7 million (US$236.3 million) from RMB834.5 million in the first nine months of 2017.

Our general and administrative expenses increased by 72.9% to RMB301.1 million (US$43.8 million) from RMB174.2 million in the first nine months of 2017.

Our product development expenses increased by 134.6% to RMB49.1 million (US$7.1 million) from RMB20.9 million in the first nine months of 2017.

Net Loss

Net loss for the first nine months of 2018 was RMB743.3 million (US$108.2 million), compared with RMB490.9 million in the first nine months of 2017.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per share was RMB121.93(US$17.75) in the first nine months of 2018.

Capital Expenditures

Our capital expenditures were incurred primarily in connection with purchases of buildings and IT infrastructure equipment necessary to support our operations. Our capital expenditures were RMB255.3 million (US$37.2 million) and RMB91.7 million in the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Outlook

For the fourth quarter of 2018, we currently expect net revenues to be between RMB540.0 million to RMB560.0 million, which would represent an increase of 56.7% to 62.5% year-over-year.

The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects our current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to substantial uncertainty.

Exchange Rate

The Company's business is primarily conducted in China and all of the revenues are denominated in Renminbi ("RMB"). This announcement contains currency conversions of RMB amounts into U.S. dollars ("US$") solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to US$ are made at a rate of RMB6.8680 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate for September 28, 2018 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on September 28, 2018, or at any other rate.

Conference Call and Webcast

Sunlands' management team will host a conference call at 7:30am U.S. Eastern Time, (8:30pm Beijing/Hong Kong time) on November 23, 2018, following the quarterly results announcement.

The dial-in details for the live conference call are:

International:

+1-412-902-4272

US toll free:

+1-888-346-8982

Canada toll free:

18556699657

Mainland China toll free:

4001-201203

Hong Kong toll free:

800-905945

Hong Kong:

+852-301-84992

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. When prompted, ask to be connected to the Sunlands Technology Group Call. Participants will be required to state their name and company upon entering the call.

A replay of the conference call will be available 1 hour after the end of the conference call until November 30, 2018.

International:

+1-412-317-0088

US toll free:

+1-877-344-7529

Canada toll free:

855-669-9658

Replay access code:

10126312

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Sunlands may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Sunlands' beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: Sunlands' goals and strategies; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its brand and services; its ability to retain and increase student enrollments; its ability to offer new courses and educational content; its ability to improve teaching quality and students' learning results; its ability to improve sales and marketing efficiency and effectiveness; its ability to engage, train and retain new faculty members; its future business development, results of operations and financial condition; its ability to maintain and improve technology infrastructure necessary to operate its business; competition in the online education industry in China; relevant government policies and regulations relating to Sunlands' corporate structure, business and industry; and general economic and business condition in China Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Sunlands' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Sunlands does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Sunlands

Sunlands Technology Group (NYSE: STG) ("Sunlands" or the "Company"), formerly known as Sunlands Online Education Group, is the leader in China's online post-secondary and professional education in terms of gross billings in 2017, according to iResearch. With a one to many, live streaming platform, Sunlands offers various degree and diploma-oriented post-secondary courses as well as online professional courses and educational content, to help students prepare for professional certification exams and attain professional skills. Students can access its services either through PC or mobile applications. The Company's online platform cultivates a personalized, interactive learning environment by featuring a virtual learning community and a vast library of educational content offerings that adapt to the learning habits of its students. Sunlands offers a unique approach to education research and development that organizes subject content into Learning Outcome Trees, the Company's proprietary knowledge management system. Sunlands has a deep understanding of the educational needs of its prospective students and offers solutions that help them achieve their goals.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use gross billings and EBITDA, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes.

We define gross billings for a specific period as the total amount of cash received for the sale of course packages, net of the total amount of refunds paid in such period. Our management uses gross billings as a performance measurement because we generally bill our students for the entire course tuition at the time of sale of our course packages and recognize revenue proportionally over a period. EBITDA is defined as net loss excluding depreciation, amortization, interest income, and income tax expenses. We believe that gross billings and EBITDA provide valuable insight into the sales of our course packages and the performance of our business.

This non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, their most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measures to their respective most directly comparable GAAP measure has been provided in the tables included below. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the historical non-GAAP financial measures to their respective most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. As gross billings and EBITDA have material limitations as an analytical metric and may not be calculated in the same manner by all companies, it may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider gross billings and EBITDA as a substitute for, or superior to, their respective most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a Qatar Foundation institution that specializes in higher education, and edX , the non-profit online learning platform founded by Harvard and MIT, have signed an agreement that will position the University as the first in the Middle East to provide interdisciplinary courses through the online platform. The courses will be accessible to millions of students around the world.

Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, president of HBKU, and Dr. Anant Agarwal, founder and CEO of edX and MIT professor, announced the partnership at an official signing ceremony in the city of Boston in the United States. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the edX Global Forum, held from November 15 to 16. The annual gathering brings together edX's partner network of senior leaders and digital learning innovators from the world's leading universities and organizations to share knowledge, exchange ideas and collectively design the future of education.

Speaking at the signing, Dr. Hasnah said: "We invite students from across the globe to take advantage of innovative ways of accessing knowledge, both of which will provide an unprecedented opportunity for working professionals to advance their careers."

"With innovation being a key objective of HBKU, we believe that this partnership with edX will enable us to bridge knowledge dissemination and allow the global community to benefit from unique offerings, which complement existing programs on the edX learning platform and remain mindful of pressing global challenges. As an ever-evolving sector, education has in recent years taken on new forms that go beyond the limitations of the conventional classroom setting. Our edX offerings are a manifestation of the University's lifelong commitment to innovative academic approaches that transcend geographical boundaries."

"We are honored to welcome Hamad Bin Khalifa University to the edX global partner community," said edX CEO and MIT Professor Anant Agarwal. "Both edX and HBKU share a mission to increase access to high-quality education for all learners, everywhere, in fields that tackle the challenges society faces at a global level. These include the need to identify new and innovative ways to provide sustainable energy, which is addressed in HBKU's Professional Certificate program. It was a delight to host Dr. Hasnah at our Global Forum this year and we look forward to furthering our partnership in the future."

HBKU's agreement with edX underscores its commitment to pursuing local and international collaborations to promote a truly global educational experience and breaks down academic silos. Through its various strategic partnerships, the University aims to make quality academic research programs and courses accessible to students in Qatar and the rest of the world.

"This program reflects HBKU's commitment to addressing local grand challenges that have a global impact. The launch of this program is timely and responds to the urgency called by the recent UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report which highlighted the need to limit global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C," said Dr. Hasnah.

Prospective students can now enroll for HBKU's Professional Certificate program on edX, which will commence on January 7, 2019. The programs consist of two MOOCs: 'Solar Resource Assessment in Desert Climates' and 'Using Photovoltaic Technology in Desert Climates'. It will focus on solar resource estimation and PV solar cell and module design for hot and dusty climates, assisting solar engineers, investors and energy policymakers to understand and mitigate the technical issues associated with solar energy production in desert environments. Professional Certificate programs on edX are a series of courses designed by industry leaders and top universities to build and enhance critical professional skills needed to succeed in today's most in-demand fields.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF), was founded in 2010 as a research-intensive university that acts as a catalyst for transformative change in Qatar and the region while having global impact. Located in Education City, HBKU is committed to building and cultivating human capacity through an enriching academic experience, innovative ecosystem, and unique partnerships. HBKU delivers multidisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs through its colleges, and provides opportunities for research and scholarship through its institutes and centers. For more information about HBKU, visit http://www.hbku.edu.qa.

ABOUT edX

edX is a nonprofit, open-source learning destination offering online educational programs and courses at edx.org in alliance with more than 130 member institutions, composed of both leading global universities and colleges, and a diverse group of prominent organizations from around the world. Founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and based in Cambridge, MA, U.S.A., edX is focused on transforming online and classroom learning through groundbreaking methodologies, game-like educational experiences and cutting-edge research on an open-source platform. For more information about edX, visit http://www.edx.org.

The renewal is the extension of a joint Cloud and Virtualisation Security Lab launched by the two entities in early 2017. The lab features Trend Micro's award-winning Deep Security™ technology designed to protect against advanced threats and targeted attacks in all kinds of server environments.

"The Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore warned that our nation needs 3,400 cybersecurity professionals by 2020. To counteract this huge talent shortage, we need to build an ecosystem that produces world-class cybersecurity professionals," said Nilesh Jain, Vice President, Southeast Asia and India, Trend Micro. "Through working closely with RP, we have the opportunity to pass on our expertise gained through our 30-year history as a global cybersecurity leader to the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Complementing the curriculum with an industry-based hands-on approach is crucial in educating students of the ever-evolving cyber landscape and nurturing them into the skilled professionals we need."

Main collaboration activities include:

Top-performing students will get internship opportunities within Trend Micro, as well as academic awards and scholarships sponsored by the company.

Trend Micro's experts will support and mentor Student Final Year Projects, which test students' ingenuity in mitigating real-life cybersecurity threats.

RP staff will get the opportunity to gain industry exposure through work assignments at Trend Micro.

Trend Micro and RP will co-develop and co-own staff projects. The results will be shared for development of Trend Micro's technology and RP's coursework.

Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, helps to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Our innovative solutions for consumers, businesses, and governments provide layered security for data centers, cloud environments, networks, and endpoints. All our products work together to seamlessly share threat intelligence and provide a connected threat defense with centralized visibility and control, enabling better, faster protection. With more than 6,000 employees in over 50 countries and the world's most advanced global threat intelligence, Trend Micro secures your connected world. For more information, visit www.trendmicro.com.

About Republic Polytechnic

The first educational institution in Singapore to leverage the Problem-based Learning approach for all its diploma programmes, Republic Polytechnic (RP) has seven schools and one academic centre offering thirty-nine diplomas in Applied Science, Engineering, Management and Communication, Hospitality, Infocomm, Sports, Health and Leisure, and Technology for the Arts.

Republic Polytechnic is committed to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurial learning in an environment that develops problem-solving skills and lifelong learning opportunities. Its holistic and broad-based curriculum prepares students for an active and meaningful role in society as problem solvers, respected professionals and passionate citizens.

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CPREDUHTSHEDCONJVNSTMThu, 22 Nov 2018 17:20:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/230140-0.shtmlWASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- James Hadley Billington—the United States Librarian of Congress Emeritus, one of the world's foremost Russian historians, and a leading American academic and author who taught at Harvard and Princeton before serving 42 years as CEO of four federal cultural institutions—died peacefully yesterday in Washington, DC, after a brief illness, surrounded by his family. He was 89 years old.

James Hadley Billington

Dr. Billington served as the 13th Librarian of Congress after being nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, an appointment unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate. He retired as Librarian on September 30, 2015.

Over a 28-year period, he founded the National Book Festival with First Lady Laura Bush, the John Kluge Center and Prize for the Study of Humanity, the Gershwin Prize, and The National Audio Visual Conservation Center.

Throughout a life dedicated to scholarship and service—during which he served every President and Congress since the 1960s until his retirement—Dr. Billington played a unique role in preserving, promoting, and sharing America's rich cultural heritage.

Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1929, he was educated in Philadelphia-area public schools. Dr. Billington was valedictorian at Lower Merion High School and Princeton University, where he graduated with highest honors in 1950. In 1953, he earned a modern Russian history doctorate from Balliol College of the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.

Dr. Billington received 42 honorary degrees, as well as the US Presidential Citizen's Medal, the Russian Federation's Order of Friendship, and the French Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

Following U.S. Army service in President Eisenhower's Office of National Estimates, he taught history at Harvard University from 1957 to 1962, and at Princeton University, where he was a popular professor from 1964 to 1974.

From 1973 to 1987, Dr. Billington was director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he founded the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies, seven other new programs, and the Wilson Quarterly.

Dr. Billington authored nine books, including the classic Russian cultural history, The Icon and the Axe and The Face of Russia, a companion book to the PBS television series.

Dr. Billington spent more than 50 years helping America's leaders and citizens better understand the former Soviet Union and its successor states, contributing to a greater appreciation of America's values and institutions in countries stretching across one-third of the globe.

He first visited Russia in 1958, and accompanied the President and First Lady, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, to Moscow in 1988 for Reagan's summit meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev.

During his 28-year tenure at the Library of Congress, Dr. Billington enlarged and technologically enhanced public spaces in the Thomas Jefferson Building, re-purposing it as a national exhibition venue that hosted over 100 exhibitions, many featuring materials never before publicly displayed in America.

He doubled the size of the Library's traditional analog collections to more than 160 million items and oversaw innovative preservation initiatives. Dr. Billington pioneered the reconstruction of Thomas Jefferson's original library, using private funds raised from the Library's James Madison Council, which he founded.

Dr. Billington also founded the Open World Leadership Center, which enabled over 27,000 Eurasian leaders to engage and learn from the democratic process. Simultaneously, he created a massive new Library of Congress online presence and launched a series of innovative Library programs to share the educational riches of the Library with millions of Americans and the world.

Dr. Billington is survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Marjorie Anne Brennan, whom he described as his "indispensable full partner in every way and at every stage of his adult life"; four children, Dr. Susan Billington Harper, Anne Billington Fischer, the Rev. James Hadley Billington, Jr., and Thomas Keator Billington; and 12 grandchildren.

Statements and testimonials from Leading National and International figures who knew Dr. Billington well:

Statement from Mrs. Laura W. Bush:"President Bush and I are saddened to learn that the United States has lost Dr. James Billington. Dr. Billington served as our nation's librarian for 28 years, leading the Library of Congress' transition into the digital age. In 2001, he was instrumental in the creation of the National Book Festival, which has welcomed hundreds of thousands of book lovers to the National Mall and to the Library of Congress. Dr. Billington's lifelong passion for research and for preserving history ensures that America's most prized literary treasures will be available to all for generations to come. President Bush and I send our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Billington's wife Marjorie, and to their four children. He will be missed."

Statement from Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House Democratic Leader:"The passing of Dr. James Billington is a profound loss for his family and loved ones as well as for our nation. Over the course of his long and prolific career, Dr. Billington became a tireless steward for American history, helping protect and preserve our nation's most treasured past for generations of Americans.

"Dr. Billington was a public servant of exceptional intelligence, dedication and vision. His tenure at the Library of Congress saw the doubling of the Library's collection and the beginning of its now vast online resources. Dr. Billington firmly believed that the treasures of American history in his care belonged to the people, and he worked passionately to ensure that Americans across the country could access these priceless collections.

"Whether teaching at Harvard or Princeton, collaborating with experts and academics, or being a trusted teacher and advisor for countless Members of Congress, Dr. Billington was a committed educator. His dedication to expanding the Library's educational programing has allowed a generation of young Americans to discover their love of history and become inspired to engage in our great democratic experiment.

"Our nation has lost a true patriot and one of its most relentless defenders. Dr. Billington's life and remarkable legacy have left an indelible mark on our unique American story, allowing generations of young people to see, experience and learn from the history he so passionately promoted. May it be a small comfort to his loving wife, Marjorie, their children, Susan, Anne, James Jr., and Thomas, and the entire Billington family that so many mourn with them at this difficult time."

Statement from Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice:"I am deeply saddened by the news of Dr. Jim Billington's passing. He was an original -- brilliant, thoughtful and kind. He led the Library of Congress with skill and passion. On a personal note, he was a great role model for me as a scholar and a public servant. His timeless work, The Icon and the Axe is quite literally the book that drew this failed music major to the study of the Soviet Union. Such was the reach of his influence in the field. I join all of his friends and colleagues in sending my thoughts and prayers to Marjorie and the Billington family."

Statement of Nina Khrushcheva, Professor of International Affairs, The New School and the granddaughter of Leonid Khrushchev, the eldest son of former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev"Dr Billington was such a towering figure in the Russian studies and in the field of the US-Russian relations that he would be thoroughly missed for decades to come. In his work, either as a scholar or a librarian of Congress, he brilliantly merged art and politics, all for the purposes of the United States better understanding and appreciating other cultures around the globe. Russia, his area of expertise, was particularly lucky. James Billington's book, The Icon and the Axe, was itself an icon for the generations of both the Russians and the Russianists. In the dark days of the Soviet Union we, the Russians, tried to understand our own culture through Dr. Billington's critical, knowledgeable and kind eye. At the same time, his philosophical and historical approach to the complex country of bombs, ballet and Brothers Karamazov became a road map for the study of Russian culture and politics for many scholars following in his steps. May his soul rest in peace."

Statement of David M. Rubenstein on the Passing of Dr. James Billington November 21, 2018:"Jim Billington was one of the finest public servants – indeed one of the finest Americans – I have ever been privileged to meet. His dedication to our country, and in the last three decades of his life to the Library of Congress, places all Americans his debt. Jim helped transform the Library of Congress into the library of the American people – a national treasure available to and benefiting all Americans. Those of us who were fortunate to know and work with him will miss him dearly."

FOSHAN, China, Nov. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited ("Bright Scholar" or the "Company") (NYSE: BEDU), the largest operator of international and bilingual K-12 schools in China*, in collaboration with Beijing Normal University ("BNU"), today jointly announced the opening of Huiyan International Education College (the "College").

____________

*

In terms of student enrollment as of September 1, 2017, according to an industry report commissioned by Bright Scholar and prepared by Frost & Sullivan in 2017.

The College aims to strengthen BNU's global academic engagements and exchanges, facilitate partnerships and new research collaborations in international education training for teachers so as to build a world class international education institution with Chinese characteristics and standardize curriculum for the development of top international education professionals who can integrate domestic and international dimension into the delivery of education. The collaboration will fill the gap in international education degree which is currently not offered by Chinese normal universities.

Ms. Huiyan Yang, Chairlady of Bright Scholar offered the keynote remarks at the College's opening ceremony, "Technology is constantly evolving & changing, and international collaboration is growing at astonishing rate as China continues to advance it's "Belt and Road" initiative with other countries. In this context, the need for professionals with international experience is of paramount importance and the demand for premium international education is increasing rapidly."

"Beijing Normal University has a history of over a century, as an advocate, pioneer and practitioner in modern higher education in China with an unwavering commitment in the pre-service preparation of teachers through education and professional development. Over the years, it has trained numerous outstanding teachers and teaching professionals, contributing to the country's socio-economic development and supporting education transformation and innovation."

The Chairlady continued her comments, "The collaboration between Beijing Normal University and Bright Scholar in the establishment of Huiyan International Education College will focus on various areas, first the College will collaborate with overseas universities to introduce renowned education institution brands and resources into China. Second, the College will develop international curriculum and operating systems with Chinese characteristics. It plans to set up a top international academic and research team to advance the "Belt & Road" initiative in international collaboration in education. Our goal is to develop outstanding education professionals and establish Huiyan International Education College as a world-class international education college."

Going forward, the collaboration between Bright Scholar and Beijing Normal University will further deepen in areas of internship (including short-term internships, Bright Scholar themed event and mentor's program etc.); teachers training program on international education (the first training class is expected to commence in first quarter of 2019), research program on international education curriculum & operating systems as well as establishment of Outstanding Educator Award for academic with significant contributions to international education.

After the opening ceremony, the College hosted its first annual education forum on the "Development trends of modern international education in China."

Jun Teng, Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Institute of International and Comparative Education of Beijing Normal University, chaired the discussion. Xudong Zhu, Dean of Faculty of Education of Beijing Normal University, Xiaohui Li, Principal and Deputy Party Sectary of The Experimental High School Attached To Beijing Normal University, Wei Gao, Principal of New Oriental Academy, Chang Liu, Principal of Zhongguancun No.1 Primary School, Laixiang Li, Regional Director of Bright Scholar and Principal of Country Garden Silver Beach School, Yanping Li, Chairperson of Elite Education Group, and representatives of respective corporations all centered around the theme to share their views on new concepts of international education.

About Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited

Bright Scholar is the largest operator of international and bilingual K-12 schools in China*. The Company is dedicated to providing quality international education to Chinese students and equipping them with the critical academic foundation and skillsets necessary to succeed in the pursuit of higher education overseas. Bright Scholar also complements its international offerings with Chinese government-mandated curriculum for students who wish to maintain the option of pursuing higher education in China. As of August 31, 2018, Bright Scholar operated 65 schools covering the breadth of K-12 academic needs of its students across eight provinces in China. In the fiscal year 2018 school year ended August 31, 2018, Bright Scholar had an average of 36,679 students enrolled at its schools.

___________

*

In terms of student enrollment as of September 1, 2017, according to an industry report commissioned by Bright Scholar and prepared by Frost & Sullivan in 2017.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the implementation of the 2018 Share Repurchase Program, which can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

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EDUHEDJVNPDTThu, 22 Nov 2018 06:00:00 +0800https://en.prnasia.com/story/230126-0.shtmlEnhancing Scholarship Opportunities at Keystone]]>
BEIJING, Nov. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Keystone Academy is pleased to announce the launch of the Keystone Scholars Program, a merit-based scholarship for highly motivated and talented students from around the world who endeavor to expand their horizons by choosing to pursue a Keystone education in Beijing, China. As our most competitive and distinguished scholarship, the Keystone Scholars program represents the highest level of scholarship, leadership, and service.

Keystone Scholars In Honor of our future leaders

A Keystone education epitomizes the pursuit of excellence to the highest degree, honoring both the mission and values of the academy. It is also a program that acts as a door to a realm of opportunities for students who seek to expand their world.

The Scholar's Program will cover the full cost of Keystone boarding tuition for each year through to graduation, provided the student maintains a distinguished level of academic performance and is a positive, contributing member of the school community. In addition, if the student enrolls at an Academy approved college or university, Keystone scholars will receive a grant to cover one year of college tuition.

Dean of Admissions at Keystone Academy, Rachael Beare, speaks with Keystone's Marketing and Communications Department in a special interview on the merits and value of scholarship in Keystone's educational philosophy.

Q: Since 2015, Keystone has offered several scholarships such as the Founder's and Junzi Scholarship. For the 2018-2019 academic year, the academy announced a new scholarship program, Keystone Scholars. What is the primary difference between this scholarship and previous scholarships? What kinds of students is the academy seeking to attract?

A: The Founder's Scholarship was the first scholarship we offered as a school, and the intention behind that scholarship program at Keystone is that we are a very dynamic school that offers a range of opportunity for students. The Junzi Scholars Program honors boys and girls who have demonstrated academic success and leadership skills in their previous school environments, and who demonstrate qualities of a junzi. We want talented students who will take advantage of the plethora of opportunities and exposure the academy has to offer.

The primary difference between the Keystone Scholars Program and the nature of other scholarship offerings is that the Scholar's Program is purely merit-based. This means that the award is based solely on the candidate's capacity to perform at the highest standard in the school both academically and in other ways. This program is about creating an incentive for high performing and high achieving students, regardless of the place they originate from, to add Keystone to the list of other amazing options that they have available to them.

At Keystone, we are seeking ways for the best students around the world to consider our school. All scholarships at some level are an incentive, especially purely merit-based scholarships such as the Keystone Scholars as opposed to need-based scholarships. These programs are designed to attract bright students to our school. We want to provide options, such as Keystone, to students and their families and to consider us among the list of world-class school that can educate their child.

We are committed to making sure that we are accessible to the best students and that we have the opportunity to enroll the best students and ensure that their resources will not prevent them from becoming part of a truly wonderful community.

Q: Keystone is a highly competitive school that pursues excellence and that seeks to attract highly motivated, talented students. How can students and their family's best position themselves when applying to Keystone, and applying for Keystone scholarships?

A: The first step for any student to be considered for any Keystone scholarship is that the students must undergo an evaluation by our Admissions Committee. We do not consider students at the scholarship stage unless we have deemed them as an excellent candidate amongst other applicants who are also applying to the school.

The scholarship stage is another level beyond that first level of competition because now these students are competing against the other students who have also applied for the scholarship. So, it's not just a matter of being excellent enough to be accepted to Keystone, you have to be exceptional enough to compete against the other scholarship students who also share similar profiles in order to be awarded the scholarship.

Q: How do scholarship students enrich and diversify the school community

A: In a million different ways! The focus of the Junzi Scholarship, for example, highlights kids who are able to enhance the level of scholarship of those around them. In other words, they're the kind of kids who ask unusual questions, who push others thinking to be better or more expansive. They are kids who lead in and outside of the classroom; they are kids who are sparks in different ways around the community. Maybe they get others interested in participating in doing community service on the weekends because it is a passion that they have but because of the nature of the type of person they are, they draw others with them into doing those kinds of activities.

I would say in almost every area of the school, whether it's in classrooms or outside of classrooms, in the arts, in the humanities, or in school productions on stage, the kids who are on the scholarship are impacting just about every area of school life in important ways. Scholarship kids tend to value what they're getting so much more than someone who has a lot of choices for school. Giving scholarships has the opportunity to make the school better. For the students, it provides more understanding and appreciation for the opportunities they've been given, both scholarship students and non-scholarship students benefit from this.

Q: How does the academy ensure that these students are successful here?

A: I think it starts by selecting the students well. I would say that's true not just for scholarship students, we think that way with every student that we accept to Keystone. We're not looking to set anyone up to fail. We want to bring students in who we feel have the capacity to be successful, and in the case of scholarship students I would say our standards are even higher because these students have an additional set of challenges that other students do not have.

I don't worry too much about them being successful when they get here. The school is very attentive in putting systems in place to help our students be successful. We're going to help students be successful not just by supporting their tuition, but also other things that they need in order to be successful in school.

Q: Keystone has established several traditions that leave lifelong imprints in our school history. Are scholarship programs viewed in the same light? What kind of legacy does the academy hope to create through various scholarship programs?

A: It's really about the pursuit of excellence for us as a school. From the very beginning of our founding as a school, there were a few things that were essential about who we wanted Keystone to be. One was that we were going to be a school that was going to be here one hundred years from now and that the great, great grandchildren of the first accepted students may one day be going to school here. In other words, we weren't starting a school that was going to be here for a few years and then disappear. We were starting a school that was going to be here for generations.

We wanted to establish a school that was going to be perceived as one of the best schools in China someday. If you're going to be a school that's perceived in that way you have to have students who are the best students. You have to create criteria that evaluates them. So even from our first year, we did not accept all the students who applied. And so, our desire in having this scholarship program was in service of getting the best students into the academy.

Q: In redefining the meaning of scholarship at Keystone, what goals does the academy hope to achieve in implementing these programs?

A: I think that having a scholarship program is a way to help the Academy achieve its goals of academic excellence. We are working hard to be the best school that we can, to educate students in the best way that we know how, and to prepare them for the best colleges and universities around the world. Having a scholarship program is all a part of the process of getting ourselves to that point.

The true meaning of scholarship, however, is not limited to an academy's ability to provide financial support to families. Scholarship at Keystone is also an act of service, a duty, and is emblematic of Keystone's mission to holistically nurture and cultivate students that fit into our community. Scholarships provide unparalleled opportunities for learning and are a distinctive characteristic of good learners, who are eager to share their passions, explore their curiosity, and serve their school communities. At Keystone, we strive to attract the best students from around the world, who can use their gifts to help shape and mold our community and lead by example in all domains of school life.

Keystone Academy, in operation since 2014, is located in Beijing, China. It is a non-profit, philanthropic educational venture governed by a board of trustees. The school blends distinctive traditions in eastern, western, and international education, creating a "new world school" that is academically outstanding and a new model of education in China. We learn from and we learn for this enterprising, global community.www.keystoneacademy.cn

BEIJING, Nov. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- China Distance Education Holdings Limited (NYSE: DL) ("CDEL", or the "Company"), a leading provider of online education and value-added services for professionals and corporate clients in China, today announced unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2018 ended September 30, 2018.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2018 Financial and Operational Highlights

Net revenue increased by 28.6% to $53.6 million from $41.7 million in the prior year period.

Total course enrollments were 805,500, a decrease of 2.9% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Cash receipts from online course registration were $36.0 million, a 61.7% increase from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Gross profit increased by 8.9% to $27.4 million from $25.2 million in the prior year period.

Non-GAAP[1] gross profit increased by 8.9% to $27.4 million from $25.2 million in the prior year period.

Gross margin was 51.1%, compared with 60.3% in the prior year period. Non-GAAP1 gross margin was 51.2%, compared with 60.4% in the prior year period.

Operating income increased by 15.6% to $12.2 million from $10.5 million in the prior year period.

Non-GAAP1 operating income increased by 14.5% to $12.8 million from $11.2 million in the prior year period.

Net income increased by 64.8% to $9.7 million from $5.9 million in the prior year period.

Non-GAAP1 net income increased by 73.9% to $12.5 million from $7.2 million in the prior year period.

Basic and diluted net income per American Depositary Share ("ADS") were $0.290 compared with basic and diluted net income per ADS of $0.178 and $0.177, respectively, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. Each ADS represents four ordinary shares.

Basic and diluted non-GAAP1 net income per ADS were $0.377 and $0.375, respectively, compared with basic and diluted non-GAAP1 net income per ADS of $0.219 and $0.218, respectively, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Cash flow from operations increased by 471.9% to $16.7 million from $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Completion of acquisition of additional 11% equity interest in Beijing Ruida in July 2018, bringing the Company's total equity interest in Beijing Ruida to 51%.

Fiscal Year 2018 Financial and Operational Highlights

Net revenue increased by 27.2% to $166.7 million from $131.0 million in fiscal year 2017.

Total course enrollments were 3.2 million, a decrease of 7.0% from fiscal year 2017.

Cash receipts from online course registration were $158.9 million, a 45.1% increase from fiscal year 2017.

Gross profit increased by 7.1% to $78.8 million from $73.6 million in fiscal year 2017.

Non-GAAP1 gross profit increased by 7.1% to $78.9 million from $73.7 million in fiscal year 2017.

Gross margin was 47.3%, compared with 56.2% in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP1 gross margin was 47.4%, compared with 56.3% in fiscal year 2017.

Operating income decreased by 24.4% to $15.9 million from $21.1 million in fiscal year 2017.

Non-GAAP1 operating income decreased by 21.4% to $18.3 million from $23.2 million in fiscal year 2017.

Net income decreased by 22.2% to $11.6 million from $14.9 million in fiscal year 2017.

Non-GAAP1 net income decreased by 8.9% to $16.1 million from $17.7 million in fiscal year 2017.

Basic and diluted net income per American Depositary Share ("ADS") were $0.347, compared with basic and diluted net income per ADS of $0.453 and $0.448, respectively, for fiscal year 2017. Each ADS represents four ordinary shares.

Basic and diluted non-GAAP1 net income per ADS were $0.488 and $0.485, respectively, compared with basic and diluted non-GAAP1 net income per ADS of $0.539 and $0.532, respectively, for fiscal year 2017.

Cash flow from operations increased by 33.6% to $50.4 million from $37.7 million in fiscal year 2017.

Mr. Zhengdong Zhu, Chairman and CEO of CDEL, said, "We concluded the fiscal year with fourth quarter revenue growth of 28.6% year-over-year, modestly below our guidance range, mainly due to a higher-than-expected mix of cash receipts from our refundable accounting elite classes, representing 26.8% of cash receipts from online course registration in the fourth quarter. The revenue from elite classes can be recognized only upon the release of related exam results and the expiration of the students' right to receive a refund, under current U.S. GAAP ASC605. However, fourth quarter revenue growth was still driven primarily by our accounting vertical in addition to newly acquired Beijing Ruida."

Mr. Zhu added, "We continued to see strong growth momentum of cash receipts from online course registration, which were up a robust 61.7% year-over-year during the fourth quarter, primarily due to strong cash receipts from our core accounting test preparation courses, and more student enrollments in our longer duration premium and elite classes. The popularity of these longer duration classes is a testament to the high degree of confidence and trust students place in us. Total course enrollments were down 2.9% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, mainly due to a decrease in enrollments of our continuing education courses. However, excluding the enrollments of continuing education courses, our total course enrollments were up 8.3% year-over-year in the fourth quarter."

Mr. Zhu concluded, "We continue to look for opportunities to further develop our business, drive growth, and strengthen our lifelong learning ecosystem. Our July 2018 acquisition of an additional 11% equity interest in Beijing Ruida brings our total equity interest in Beijing Ruida to 51%. Beijing Ruida, a leading provider of exam preparation services for participants in China's national legal profession qualification examination, further diversifies our business model by elevating our position in China's legal education market. In our healthcare vertical, we recently established a partnership with Tencent, aimed at improving our healthcare educational products and services, providing our students with creative learning tools, and allowing us to explore new teaching approaches in healthcare education."

Mr. Mark Marostica, Co-Chief Financial Officer of CDEL, said, "Our fourth quarter non-GAAP operating margin was down year-over-year yet up sequentially as expected. The year-over-year decline in operating margin was primarily due to the impact of a higher mix of cash receipts from refundable accounting elite classes on our revenue as mentioned by Mr. Zhu, while the related student acquisition costs were incurred up front. The amortization of intangibles arising from the acquisition of Beijing Ruida and an increase in rental expenses from our new Anhui Qiao office location in Beijing, also adversely impacted our fourth quarter operating margin to some extent."

Mr. Marostica, continued, "Despite the fourth quarter operating margin decline, our headcount remained relatively steady compared with fourth quarter fiscal 2017, excluding Jiangsu Asset, acquired in November 2017, and Beijing Ruida. And we are encouraged by the continued momentum of our cash receipts growth in both our fourth quarter fiscal 2018, as well as our first quarter fiscal 2019 to date. As we begin fiscal 2019, we remain steadfast in continuing to balance growth with a keen focus on profitability and prudent cost control."

Disposal of "Tax School Program"

On November 12, 2018, the Board of directors approved to dispose 60% equity interest in Beijing Champion Tax Management and Advisory Co., Ltd. ("Champion Tax Advisory"), which operates the "Tax School Program," to the entity's operating team in consideration of RMB30 million ($4.3 million), subject to changes according to the cash level of Champion Tax Advisory upon execution of transaction documents. The "Tax School Program" offers tax classes for tax and accounting professionals and provides them with subscription-based access to the Company's vast databank of tax, finance, and legal course materials and information. The disposal of Champion Tax Advisory is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2019.

Mr. Zhengdong Zhu, Chairman and CEO of CDEL, said, "We've operated the "Tax School Program" since 2013. This business has not yet generated reasonable returns after several years of investments. Therefore, we decided to dispose of 60% equity interest to the entity's operating team, which can be more flexible in formulating future business development strategies."

CEO Share Purchase Plan

As announced on June 25, 2018 by the Company, Mr. Zhengdong Zhu, Chairman and CEO of CDEL, had informed the Company of his intention to use his personal funds to purchase the Company's shares for an amount up to a maximum of $25 million within one year. As of October 31, 2018, Mr. Zhu had bought a total of approximately $8.2 million of the Company's ordinary shares and ADSs pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2018 Financial Results

Net Revenue. Total net revenue increased by 28.6% to $53.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $41.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. Net revenue from online education services, books and reference materials, and other sources contributed 68.1%, 2.1% and 29.8%, respectively, of total net revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018.

Online education services. Net revenue from online education services increased by 14.0% to $36.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $32.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, mainly due to revenue growth from the accounting vertical and revenue from the legal vertical contributed by Beijing Ruida.

Books and reference materials. Net revenue from books and reference materials decreased by 46.2% to $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, from $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Others. Net revenue from other sources increased by 110.9% to $16.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $7.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, primarily due to revenue growth from offline accounting professional training courses, business start-up training services, revenue from offline legal professional training courses contributed by Beijing Ruida, as well as revenue from accounting and related advisory services contributed by Jiangsu Asset.

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales increased by 58.5% to $26.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $16.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. Non-GAAP1 cost of sales increased by 58.6% to $26.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $16.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. The increase was mainly due to increased salaries and related expenses, increased lecture fees for the expansion of online and offline course offerings, increased rental and related expenses associated with the Company's new office space in Beijing and offline training courses, expenses associated with Beijing Ruida, as well as other miscellaneous expenses.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin. Gross profit was $27.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, up 8.9% from $25.2 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP1 gross profit was $27.4 million, increasing by 8.9% from $25.2 million in the prior year period. Gross margin was 51.1% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, compared with 60.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. Non-GAAP1 gross margin was 51.2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, compared with 60.4% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses increased by 34.4% to $20.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, from $14.9 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP1 total operating expenses increased by 36.0% to $19.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, from $14.3 million in the prior year period.

Selling expenses. Selling expenses increased by 60.4% to $14.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $8.9 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP1 selling expenses increased by 60.6% to $14.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $8.9 million in the prior year period. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in salaries and related expenses, higher commissions to agents, and expenses associated with Beijing Ruida. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in advertising and promotional expenses.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased by 4.0% to $5.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $6.0 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP1 general and administrative expenses decreased by 4.1% to $5.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $5.5 million in the prior year period. The decrease was mainly due to decreased provision for doubtful debts, and other general administrative expenses, and was partially offset by expenses associated with Beijing Ruida.

Impairment loss from long-term investments. Impairment loss from long-term investments increased to $2.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $0.7 million in the prior year period, due to impairment of value of the Company's investment in investee companies, Beijing Piyingke Technology Co., Ltd. and Mayi White-Collar Investment Management Co., Ltd.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense decreased by 16.2% to $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $2.1 million in the prior year period, primarily due to a decrease in taxable income.

Net Income. As a result of the foregoing, net income increased by 64.8% to $9.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $5.9 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP1 net income increased by 73.9% to $12.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $7.2 million in the prior year period.

Operating Cash Flow.Net operating cash inflow increased by 471.9% to $16.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 from $2.9 million in the prior year period. The operating cash inflow was mainly attributable to net income before non-cash items generated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. The decrease in inventories, prepayments and other assets, and the increase in income tax payable and refundable fees generated from our longer duration elite classes, also contributed to the operating cash inflow. The operating cash inflow was partially offset by the increase in accounts receivable and the decrease in deferred revenue.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-term Investments. Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments as of September 30, 2018 increased by 8.9% to $99.6 million from $91.5 million as of June 30, 2018, mainly due to the operating cash inflow generated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, which was partially offset by the capital expenditure of $8.5 million.

Fiscal Year 2018 Financial Results

Net Revenue. Total net revenue increased by 27.2% to $166.7 million in fiscal year 2018 from $131.0 million in fiscal year 2017. Net revenue from online education services, books and reference materials, and other sources contributed 70.2%, 6.1% and 23.7%, respectively, of total net revenues for fiscal year 2018.

Online education services. Net revenue from online education services increased by 22.5% to $117.0 million in fiscal year 2018 from $95.5 million in fiscal year 2017.

Books and reference materials. Net revenue from books and reference materials increased by 13.7% to $10.2 million in fiscal year 2018, from $9.0 million in fiscal year 2017.

Others. Net revenue from other sources increased by 48.8% to $39.4 million in fiscal year 2018 from $26.5 million in fiscal year 2017.

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales increased by 53.1% to $87.9 million in fiscal year 2018 from $57.4 million in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP1 cost of sales increased by 53.2% to $87.7 million in fiscal year 2018 from $57.2 million in fiscal year 2017.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin. Gross profit was $78.8 million in fiscal year 2018, up 7.1% from $73.6 million in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP1 gross profit was $78.9 million, up 7.1% from $73.7 million in fiscal year 2017. Gross margin was 47.3% in fiscal year 2018, compared with 56.2% in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP1 gross margin was 47.4% in fiscal year 2018, compared with 56.3% in fiscal year 2017.

Operating Expenses.Total operating expenses increased by 21.3% to $66.0 million in fiscal year 2018, from $54.4 million in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP1 total operating expenses increased by 21.7% to $63.8 million in fiscal year 2018, from $52.4 million in fiscal year 2017.

Selling expenses. Selling expenses increased by 28.1% to $44.7 million in fiscal year 2018 from $34.9 million in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP1 selling expenses increased by 28.2% to $44.6 million in fiscal year 2018 from $34.8 million in fiscal year 2017.

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by 9.2% to $21.3 million in fiscal year 2018 from $19.5 million in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP1 general and administrative expenses increased by 9.0% to $19.2 million in fiscal year 2018 from $17.6 million in fiscal year 2017.

Impairment loss from long-term investments. Impairment loss from long-term investments increased to $2.8 million in fiscal year 2018 from $0.7 million in fiscal year 2017.

Income Tax Expense.Income tax expense decreased by 50.1% to $2.3 million in fiscal year 2018 from $4.6 million in fiscal year 2017.

Net Income. As a result of the foregoing, net income decreased by 22.2% to $11.6 million in fiscal year 2018 from $14.9 million in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP1 net income decreased by 8.9% to $16.1 million in fiscal year 2018 from $17.7 million in fiscal year 2017.

Operating Cash Flow. Net operating cash inflow increased by 33.6% to $50.4 million in fiscal year 2018 from $37.7 million in fiscal year 2017.

Outlook

For the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company expects to generate total net revenue in the range of $38.7 million to $40.5 million, representing year-over-year growth of approximately 8% to 13%.

For fiscal year 2019, the Company expects to generate total net revenues in the range of $208.3 million to $216.7 million, representing year-over-year growth of approximately 25% to 30%.

The above guidance reflects the Company's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call

Management will hold a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 (9:00 p.m. Beijing Time on Wednesday, November 21, 2018) to discuss financial results and answer questions from investors and analysts. Listeners may access the call by dialing:

US Toll Free:

+1-866-519-4004

International:

+65-6713-5090

Mainland China:

400-620-8038

Hong Kong:

+852-3018-6771

United Kingdom:

+44-203-6214-779

Passcode:

CDEL or DL

A telephone replay will be available two hours after the call until November 28, 2018 by dialing:

US Toll Free:

+1-855-452-5696

International:

+61-2-8199-0299

Mainland China:

400-632-2162

Hong Kong:

800-963-117

United Kingdom:

0808-234-0072

Replay Passcode:

7085869

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://ir.cdeledu.com.

About China Distance Education Holdings Limited

China Distance Education Holdings Limited is a leading provider of online education and value-added services for professionals and corporate clients in China. The courses offered by the Company through its websites are designed to help professionals seeking to obtain and maintain professional licenses and to enhance their job skills through our professional development courses in China in the areas of accounting, healthcare, engineering & construction, legal and other industries. The Company also offers professional education courses for participants in the national judicial examination, online test preparation courses for self-taught learners pursuing higher education diplomas or degrees, practical accounting training courses for college students and working professionals, as well as third-party developed online courses. In addition, the Company provides business services to corporate clients, including but not limited to tax advisory and accounting outsourcing services. For further information, please visit http://ir.cdeledu.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expect," "predict," "anticipate," "future," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "estimate" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the first quarter and full fiscal year 2019 and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company's strategic and operational plans (in particular, the anticipated benefits of strategic growth initiatives, including the acquisition of Beijing Ruida, the partnership with Tencent, the promotion of the Company's lifelong learning ecosystem, as well as cost control) contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic and annual reports to the SEC, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: our goals and growth strategies; future prospects and market acceptance of our courses and other products and services; our future business development and results of operations; projected revenues, profits, earnings and other estimated financial information; projected enrollment numbers; our plans to expand and enhance our courses and other products and services; competition in the education and test preparation markets; and Chinese laws, regulations and policies, including those applicable to the Internet, Internet content providers, the education and telecommunications industries, mergers and acquisitions, taxation and foreign exchange.

Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed or furnished with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Statement Regarding Unaudited Financial Information

The unaudited financial information set forth in this press release is preliminary and subject to adjustments. Adjustments to the financial statements may be identified when audit work is performed for the year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited financial information.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP net income, operating income, gross profit, cost of sales, selling expenses, general and administrative expenses, net income margin, operating margin, gross profit margin and basic and diluted earnings per ADS and per share. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this release.

The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss of long-term investments. However, non-GAAP financial measures may not be indicative of the Company's operating performance from a cash perspective. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to the Company's historical performance and liquidity. The Company computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of excluding share-based compensation expenses and impairment loss of long-term investments from the above-mentioned line items and presenting these non-GAAP measures is that such items may continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our business. Management compensates for this limitation by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying table at the end of this release provides more detail on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

[1] For more information about the non-GAAP financial measures contained in this press release, please see "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

(Financial Tables on Following Pages)

China Distance Education Holdings Limited

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands of US Dollars, except number of shares and per share data)

September 30, 2017

September 30, 2018

(Derived from Audited)

(Unaudited)

Assets:

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

60,526

30,826

Restricted cash

34,855

51,736

Short term investments

5,261

17,073

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of US$1,342 and US$1,191 as of September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively

5,525

7,243

Inventories

864

2,782

Prepayment and other current assets

10,439

17,013

Deferred tax assets, current portion

1,654

-

Deferred cost

711

1,125

Total current assets

119,835

127,798

Non-current assets:

Property, plant and equipment, net

14,022

27,972

Goodwill

29,459

79,910

Long term investments

43,631

33,837

Other intangible assets, net

9,947

39,106

Deposit for purchase of non-current assets

641

8,126

Deferred tax assets, non-current portion

-

5,711

Other non-current assets

7,016

6,428

Total non-current assets

104,716

201,090

Total assets

224,551

328,888

Liabilities and equity:

Current liabilities:

Bank borrowings

29,965

50,538

Accrued expenses and other liabilities (including accrued expenses and other liabilities of the consolidated VIE without recourse to China Distance Education Holdings Limited of US$33,957 and US$31,684 as of September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively)

38,767

42,141

Amount due to a related party

1,648

-

Income tax payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated VIE without recourse to China Distance Education Holdings Limited of US$4,847 and US$3,641 as of September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively)

6,750

9,293

Deferred revenue (including deferred revenue of the consolidated VIE without recourse to China Distance Education Holdings Limited of US$77,262 and US$49,575 as of September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively)

50,506

78,157

Refundable fees (including refundable fees of the consolidated VIE without recourse to China Distance Education Holdings Limited of US$13,837 and US$1,074 as of September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively)

1,074

13,837

Total current liabilities

128,710

193,966

Non-current liabilities:

Deferred tax liabilities, non-current portion

3,099

12,693

Long-term bank borrowing

19,930

12,464

Total non-current liabilities

23,029

25,157

Total liabilities

151,739

219,123

Equity:

Ordinary shares (par value of US$0.0001 per share at September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively; Authorized –500,000,000 shares at September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively; Issued and outstanding –133,275,521 and 131,854,773 shares at September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively)

13

13

Additional paid-in capital

19,097

21,557

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(3,367)

(7,013)

Retained earnings

33,040

29,717

Total China Distance Education Holdings Limited shareholder's equity

48,783

44,274

Noncontrolling interest

24,029

65,491

Total equity

72,812

109,765

Total liabilities and equity

224,551

328,888

China Distance Education Holdings Limited

Unaudited Consolidated Statements Of Operations

(in thousands of US dollars, except number of shares, per share and per ADS data)